Shinzo Abe Net Worth: Know About Japan’s Prime Minister

Shinzo Abe has a net worth of $32 million. He is the 16th longest serving Prime Minister in the world. Abe attended the University of Southern California, where he studied Political Science and Economics. He graduated in 1978, with a BA in Economics, and in 1982, with an MA in Political Science. He also attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Philosophy. He graduated in 1982 with an MA in Philosophy.

Shinzo Abe Net Worth: $32 Million

Who is Shinzo Abe?

Shōdo Abe is the current Prime Minister of Japan. He has been in the role since 26 October 2012 and is currently the longest-serving such PM since 1948. He was elected to the Diet (Japanese parliament) in his first try in 1993, and has been a member of the Diet continuously, with the exception of a 1-year hiatus, since then.

He has also held a number of significant positions over the years, including Chief Cabinet Secretary, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare.

He is a member of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), and has been a member of the party since the beginning of his political career.

Early life and Education

Abe was born in Tokyo, Japan on September 21, 1954, to a wealthy and political family. His grandfather served as the Prime Minister (1947–1951) and his father was the Foreign Minister (1982–86). Abe’s own political career took off at a young age.

He became the President of the Japan Youth Council and the Chairman of the Japan Society for International Cooperation.

He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Political Science. He then went to the University of California, Berkeley to study Public Administration.

Member of the House of Representatives

Abe was elected to the House of Representatives in his twenties, making him the youngest person ever elected to the House. His political career began in the early 1980s when he joined the right-wing faction of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

After two terms as a member of the lower house, he was elected as a member of the upper house in 1991. In 1993, he was appointed as the secretary-general of the LDP youth wing.

He became a parliamentary member in the same year when he was elected to the House of Councillors. In 2000, he was elected to the House of Representatives for the second time.

In 2001, he was appointed as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, becoming the youngest Foreign Minister in Japan’s history.

First term as prime minister (2006–2007)

In September 2006, he was elected as the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), making him the de facto leader of the party. Two months later, he became the de jure leader of the party as well as the de facto leader of the country; he was appointed as the Prime Minister of Japan.

His first term as prime minister lasted for just nine months, ending in September 2007 after he resigned over his alleged misuse of political funds. His popularity took a nosedive after the pension scandal surfaced.

The Cabinet also resigned in August 2007 after failing to come up with a solution to the rising energy costs. Although he was re-elected as president of the LDP, he stepped down from his post as Prime Minister.

Unpopularity and Resignation

Abe’s approval ratings fell to just 10% after the pension scandal surfaced. He was accused of misusing political funds during his first term as prime minister. He was accused of using public funds to pay to send aides to a school which he was connected to.

He was also accused of using taxpayer money to pay for his official travel expenses. After the pension scandal came to light, he tried to salvage his image by appointing two independent Special Counsels to investigate the allegations against him. He also promised to step down once the Special Counsels submitted their findings.

The Special Counsels concluded that Abe had misused his political funds, and a majority of the Japanese public wanted him to resign. The LDP also began to lose favor among the voters and by September 2007, the party’s approval rating had dropped below 30%.

The party also lost its majority in the House of Councillors.

Second LDP presidency and 2012 general election

Abe was re-elected as the President of the LDP in September 2012; during his campaign, he promised to implement an economic policy based on fiscal stimulus, monetary expansion, and growth and employment creation.

He also promised to cut taxes and strengthen the social security system. He also promised to set up an ‘economy-in-exile’ for the elderly and create more employment opportunities for youth.

Abe and other LDP leaders also promised to review Japan’s energy policy and promote nuclear power. After his victory, Abe was appointed as the Prime Minister of Japan for the second time.

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Second term as prime minister (2012–2014)

Abe won the general election in December 2012 and was sworn in as the Prime Minister for the second time. He was the first Prime Minister of Japan to be re-elected since the 1990s. In 2013, he became the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka after the end of the civil war there.

He also became the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar after four and a half decades. In December 2013, Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a pact on the East China Sea dispute and agreed to create a joint exploration venture in the area to help solve the long-standing dispute over oil and gas deposits.

He also embarked on a trip to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Oceania to strengthen ties with these countries.

Third arrow”: Growth strategy and structural reform

In December 2013, Abe unveiled his economic policy called the ‘third arrow’ of Abenomics. He said that his new economic policy would focus on growth strategy and structural reform.

He also said that his new economic policy would have an increased fiscal spending, further monetary expansion and an aggressive growth strategy. His economic policy was welcomed by investors because it could help stimulate the Japanese economy.

However, analysts said that he would need to cut taxes in order to promote economic growth. They also said that he would need to increase the number of workers in the aging society.

While his economic policy was welcomed by some, others criticized his economic policy for being ‘too vague’ and for lacking a clear timeline.

Third term as prime minister (2014–2017)

In December 2014, Abe was re-elected as the Prime Minister of Japan for the third term. He was the first Prime Minister of Japan to be re-elected for a third term since the end of World War II. He also became the third longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan.

In January 2015, he embarked on a tour to the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Australia to strengthen ties with these countries. In May 2015, he became the first Japanese Prime Minister to visit the Indian Ocean country of Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war there. In September 2015, he announced that Japan would re-interpret its pacifist constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight in foreign countries if the Japanese government was threatened.

A few months later, in November 2015, he announced that Japan would provide $30 billion in aid to African countries over the next five years.

Re-election as LDP president and “Abenomics 2.0”

In September 2017, Abe was re-elected as the President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for the fourth time. He was re-elected for a fifth time in September 2018. He was also re-elected as the leader of the governing coalition. Abe has announced that he will dissolve the lower house at the end of October and call for a snap

Fourth term as prime minister (2017–2020)

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won a majority in the lower house election on October 22, 2017, following a campaign that focused on the economy and criticism of the incumbent Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)’s handling of the economy during its 2012–2014 administration.

This was the LDP’s first electoral victory since 2009. The LDP captured 291 house seats, securing a majority with the support of three minor parties. This victory is expected to accelerate the implementation of an economic agenda that includes more fiscal stimulus, a revision of the Japanese Constitution, and an expansion of Japan’s defense posture.

Abe’s victory also indicates that he has curried favor with Japanese voters, despite an ongoing scandal involving the sale of government property to the ultra-nationalist organization Nippon Kaigi, his support for a controversial new secrecy law, and his failure to address issues of labor exploitation or alleviate the country’s critical gender gap.

Retirement

Despite the fact that he was re-elected as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party for a fourth term in September 2018, Abe has said that he will step down in 2021. He made this announcement in 2018 in order to avoid criticism that he was extending his rule.

This is the first time that he has made a public announcement about his retirement. It is likely that he will attempt to push through some major changes to the country before stepping down.

Early in his first term, he pushed to amend the constitution and create a more powerful military force. While he didn’t get the amendment, he did succeed in changing the interpretation of the constitution to allow the military to have a more active role in the country’s defense.

Political positions and philosophy

Abe’s political philosophy is a mixture of conservative ideas emphasizing “traditional Japanese values” such as hard work, collectivism, and a strong sense of national identity. He has voiced his opposition to the contemporary Western view of gender equality, arguing that the “gendering” of society should take into account “the nature of human beings.” He has also defended the importance of a curriculum that teaches children “Japanese traditions,” such as the “beauty” of the Rising Sun flag. On the economic front, Abe has pushed for an expansionary fiscal policy that he believes will spur economic growth. He has also promoted a favorable business environment through deregulation and the introduction of tax incentives. And, despite criticism from human rights organizations, Abe has defended the country’s strict immigration policies, noting that “We cannot survive if we become 10 percent immigrants.”

Assassination of Shinzo Abe

In Nara on July 8, 2022, Abe was giving a speech when he was shot twice, resulting in cardiac and pulmonary arrest. He died the same day, aged 67. The police apprehended the alleged gunman, Tetsuya Yamagami (a former Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force officer), following the shooting. The assassin fired two shots at Abe, the first hitting him in the neck and the second hitting him fatally in the heart.

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Honors, Awards and International Recognition

Abe has received the following honors and awards:

Honors

• Member Special Class of the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud
• Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
• Member First Class of the Order of Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
• Grand Cross of the Order of Ivory Merit
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
• Grand Collar of the Order of Sikatuna
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
• Gold Olympic Order
• Chief Commander of the Legion of Merit
• Padma Vibhushan
• Order of the Republic of Serbia

Awards

• 2013 Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinkers
• Herman Kahn Award
• Asian of the Year award
• Time 100 in 2014
• Time 100 in 2018
• Boston Global Forum’s World Leader in Cybersecurity Award
• 2021 World Statesman Award
• Keizaikai Award in 2021
• Netaji Award 2022

Shinzo Abe’s political career

Shōdo Abe is a part of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in Japan. The LDP is a conservative political party that has been in power since 1955.

The LDP was responsible for a number of policies that were controversial both domestically and internationally, including “Japanese-first” and “imperial-first” policies. In fact, Abe’s previous stints as Prime Minister were short-lived, lasting less than a year each.

During his first term, he was forced to resign after only 9 months due to a parliamentary scandal. He was re-elected to the position in 2006, but resigned less than a year later due to low approval ratings and health issues.

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Shinzo Abe and Japan’s Military

Likely one of Abe’s greatest challenges as Prime Minister is reviving the Japanese military. Japan’s military was once a fearsome force, but due to a number of factors, it has been significantly weakened. Abe has been vocal about the need for a stronger Japanese military.

He has made it clear that he wishes to keep Japan’s military as “defense-only” force, but he has also suggested that Japan should be able to defend itself without relying on the United States. This is particularly important with North Korea’s nuclear program on the rise.

Shinzo Abe and the economy of Japan

Abe has been vocal about his desire to revive the Japanese economy. Japan’s economy has been slow to recover since the 2008 financial crisis. It has been lingering in a “recession” since then, with only occasional signs of “growth”.

Abe has made it clear that he wishes to revive a “growth-first” policy in Japan, but he has also promised not to engage in extreme “stimulus” like the LDP did in the past.

The key to reviving the Japanese economy is to strengthen ties with other Asian economies. In fact, Abe has made strengthening these relationships one of his top priorities as Prime Minister.

What happens next?

Abe has made it clear that he wishes to return Japan to its once-powerful status. To do this, he will have to revamp Japan’s military, revive its economy and strengthen ties with other Asian countries.

There are, of course, a number of challenges that Abe will have to overcome, including strengthening ties with the United States and re-building Japan’s economy.

One thing is certain, however, and that is that Japan will be under new management for the next few years, hopefully bringing it closer to its former glory.

Rebuilding Japan’s economy

The first step towards re-building the Japanese economy is to make sure that it does not fall into another recession. In order to do this, Abe has promised to make a number of changes.

In fact, he has promised to increase government spending in order to boost the economy. He has also promised to remove the consumption tax and support small and medium-sized businesses. These changes should have a significant impact on the Japanese economy.

In fact, the consumption tax was removed in 2018, which should help boost the economy, but only slightly. Another thing that Abe can do to help re-build the Japanese economy is to strengthen ties with other Asian nations, particularly China.

Rebuilding Japan’s military might

Likely one of the most challenging tasks that Abe faces as Prime Minister is re-building Japan’s military might. Abe has said that he wishes to change the “pacifist” constitution that was written after the end of World War II. A key part of this change is to re-write the constitution.

If the constitution is changed, it will be easier to re-build Japan’s military. Abe has suggested that he wishes to re-write the constitution. However, this is easier said than done.

Shinzo Abe’s Role as Prime Minister of Japan

As Prime Minister of Japan, Abe will have a significant role to play in Asian relations, particularly with China. The relationship between China and Japan has been strained over the past few years, especially after a dispute over a series of islands near Japan called Senkaku.

Abe has made it clear that he wishes to strengthen ties with China, but that he will also defend Japanese control over the Senkaku islands. Abe also plans to strengthen ties with other Asian nations, including South Korea and Taiwan.

Abenomics: What is it and what does it mean for Japan?

Abenomics is a term coined to describe the economic and financial policies implemented by Shinzo Abe during his time as PM. The main goal behind these policies, which include fiscal stimulus and monetary easing, is to revive the Japanese economy after the 2008 financial crisis.

While many economists have praised Abe for trying to implement policies that could help revive Japan’s economy, there are some who have criticized his policies as “unambitious”. The main criticism of Abenomics is that it did not lead to a significant improvement in Japan’s economic growth. This could be due to a number of factors.

The first is that Abenomics has not been given enough time to work. The second is that Japan’s economic problems are due to structural problems, and a simple mix of fiscal stimulus and monetary easing might not be enough to solve them.

Conclusion

As we have seen, there is a lot riding on the shoulders of Japan’s new Prime Minister. First and foremost, Shinzo Abe has to revive the Japanese economy, which has been struggling for nearly a decade.

Abe has to do this while also re-building Japan’s military might, strengthening ties with other Asian nations, and dealing with a tense situation with China over a disputed island chain.

Abe will have to use all of his tact, skill and experience in order to do all of this. Let’s hope that he is up to the challenge!

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