Read the full essay here.
The Shinzo Abe administration, the longest in Japanese history, came to an abrupt halt in September 2020. This article argues that while the Abe administration has strengthened democratic control at the institutional level in certain respects, he has gone too far in undermining the norms and practices that underpin democracy in Japan. While the Yoshihide Suga administration is expected to continue along these lines, the prospect of growing economic disparities in society, as well as the spread of misinformation and disinformation, will weigh on Japanese democracy.