Politics under Shinzō Abe
Since the return to power of the LDP and Shinzō Abe in December 2012, a certain stability seems to be emerging. In July 2016, the parliamentary majority of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe's Liberal Democratic Party emerged strengthened by winning the senatorial elections by a wide margin. Regarding defense policy, since the 1960s, Article 9 of the Constitution, which provides for Japan to renounce waging war and maintaining a war potential, has been regularly called into question without any real decision being taken. Shinzō Abe takes up the subject, proposing a modification of Article 9 to increase the country's self-defense capabilities. On September 19, 2015, the Japanese Diet passed a series of laws translating into legislation a revision of the constitution by 2020 going far beyond participation in collective security actions, notably under a UN mandate. Nevertheless, many voices are opposed to this revision, and the abdication of the emperor seems to be seriously delaying the project. On June 9, 2017, the Japanese Parliament passed a law authorizing Emperor Akihito to leave office and abdicate in favor of his eldest son, Naruhito. The latter acceded to the throne on May1, 2019, marking the beginning of the Reiwa era, or "ordered harmony". After seven years and eight months, Shinzō Abe set the record for Japan's longest-serving prime minister. On August 28, 2020, he indicated his intention to resign, citing health concerns. He was then 65. On September 16 of the same year, he stepped down, replaced by his former government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, after an emergency election. On October 4, 2021, a new Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, was elected. One year later, on July 8, Shinzō Abe is assassinated at an election rally in Nara.
Current policy
Since the assassination of Shinzō Abe, Japanese politics has undergone a major upheaval. Under the leadership of Fumio Kishida, the government has sought to maintain stability while responding to growing challenges, such as an aging population, economic security and rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. Abe's legacy, marked by his ambitious economic program dubbed " Abenomics " (a contraction of Abe and economics) and his vision of a more assertive Japan on the international stage, continues to influence political debate. However, corruption scandals (including a recent LDP political funding scandal) and criticism of the management of certain social policies have weakened public support for the Liberal Democratic Party, making the country's political future uncertain. In 2024, Shigeru Ishiba replaces Fumio Kishida.
Economy
After experiencing a recession from 2008 to 2012, its worst crisis since the Second World War, Japan has followed up with several favorable years, and even a surplus in 2015 and 2016. This growth is taking place against a backdrop of stimulus measures known as " Abenomics ". The world's third-largest economy is enjoying its longest period of growth in thirty years. VAT, which rose from 5% to 8% in 2014, and the exorbitant costs of the Fukushima disaster, weighed heavily on recovery forecasts. This is now a thing of the past, with exports up 11.8% in 2017, buoyed by miscellaneous machinery, semiconductors, automobiles and the fall in oil and the yen. In the same year, the Japanese economy grew by 1.6% (instead of 0.9% in 2016). In July 2017, Japan signed an ambitious free-trade agreement with the EU. Nevertheless, this momentum is slowing, as expected growth falls back to 0.9% in 2018 and 2019 (rather than 1.5% as previously forecast). As for the unemployment rate, it remains low, at a time when the country is facing labor shortages in many sectors. On October1, 2019, the Japanese consumption tax increases from 8% to 10%. The year 2020 sees an unprecedented rebound with the coronavirus pandemic. A colossal aid plan for businesses and individuals is put in place. Covid-19 leads to a collapse in the country's GDP in the second quarter of 2020 (7.8% on the previous quarter). This was the biggest fall on record since similar data went live in 1980. GDP rebounds at the end of the year with a stronger-than-expected recovery. As in many other countries around the world, the "aftermath" of the coronavirus will be crucial to Japan's economic recovery. And the country is also facing a labor shortage. According to a survey conducted in 2019 by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Foreign Trade and Industry, 61% of konbini said they were suffering from labor shortages, compared with 22% in 2014. These convenience stores are a good barometer for judging the trend. For example, stores and franchises are currently having difficulty recruiting new employees willing to work nights for just over 8 euros an hour. This labor shortage is a major societal problem. As a result, it's not uncommon these days, especially in the big cities, to find employees of foreign origin, often from South-East Asia, at the checkouts. Since 2020, the Japanese economy has been marked by structural and cyclical challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic triggered a recession, with disruptions to trade, tourism and domestic consumption. Stimulus measures, combining public spending and accommodative monetary policies, have supported the recovery, although it remains fragile.Aging demographics continue to weigh on the workforce and domestic demand, while Japan strives to diversify its supply chains in the face of global trade tensions. At the same time, energy transition and technological innovation initiatives are aimed at revitalizing the economy for the long term. In 2025, Japan is navigating through a zone of economic turbulence, marked by tremors linked to the reciprocal customs duties imposed by Donald Trump, persistent inflation weighing on purchasing power, a weak yen and a notable rise in the price of rice, the country's staple food.
Tourism
After a few positive years, the tourism industry suffered a terrible setback following the disaster of March 11, 2011. Even more than the tsunami, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant had a devastating impact on tourism. Tourists deserted Japan for a few years, only to return in droves in 2013. The many regions that were not hit by the disaster are seeking to showcase their treasures by participating in numerous international trade fairs and communicating more aggressively. Northern Honshu is, unfortunately, going through a long and difficult phase in terms of tourist activity. Japan, which was aiming to reach the symbolic milestone of 20 million tourists before the 2020 Olympics, achieved it in 2016. The 30 million mark was even surpassed in 2018, and again in 2019. It was only natural that the government set itself the target of 40 million foreign visitors by 2020, with the Olympic Games in its sights. Unfortunately, the pandemic, the postponement of the Games to 2021 and the closure of Japanese borders to contain the spread of the virus dashed any hopes of an all-time record. By the end of 2021, Japanese daily life had returned to a semblance of normality. But the variants were still weighing on the reopening of borders, which once again remained hermetically sealed. 2022 finally saw the reopening of tourism to the Archipelago... a sector that has been doing wonderfully well ever since. For example, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the estimated number of international travellers in March 2025 was 3,497,600 (+13.5% on 2024). Japan's tourism sector is therefore continuing its growth momentum, with forecasts for the number of international visitors set to exceed 40 million by 2025. This forecast builds on a record already set in 2024, with 36.9 million tourists welcomed.
Environment
Japanese culture pays great attention to the fight against waste and to living simply, without superfluous items, which facilitates the deployment of the "zero waste" approach promoted in the country. However, the consumption of plastic, particularly for packaging, remains very high. Konbini are overflowing with plastic, with plastic-hungry take-away food products swarming the shelves. A number of stores have therefore begun to use paper packaging for certain rice dishes. Only the lid is made of plastic, reducing the use of this material by around 40%. The coronavirus pandemic has boosted takeaway sales, and hence plastic consumption. On October 26, 2020, Suga Yoshihide confirms Japan's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. On August 24, 2023, Japan begins discharging treated water from the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, despite strong opposition from China and concerns expressed by Japanese fishermen.
Tōhoku since 2011
Since March 11, 2011, Tōhoku, the region hard hit by the Fukushima earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, has been pursuing a long road of reconstruction, marked by notable advances and persistent challenges. Fourteen years after the triple disaster, reconstruction efforts have restored nearly all damaged public infrastructure, including the full reopening of the JR Jōban line in 2020 and the Tōhoku Chūō highway in 2021. Agriculture and fishing, key sectors of the local economy, have also regained much of their capacity, with 95% of farmland rehabilitated and 98% of seafood production facilities reopened. However, challenges remain. People are still displaced, mainly due to radioactive contamination around the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant. Economic recovery is uneven: while agriculture and fishing are recovering, the industrial sector is struggling to return to pre-disaster levels: 45% of affected companies have not returned to pre-March 11 staffing levels. On the environmental front, the management of treated radioactive water remains a sensitive issue. The decision to release this treated water into the Pacific Ocean is raising concerns among local communities and neighboring countries.
Despite these challenges, Tōhoku embodies a remarkable resilience. Cultural initiatives, such as the Reborn-Art Festival and the Michinoku Coastal Trail, symbolize or have symbolized the region's renaissance, combining memory work, art and nature to strengthen community ties and attract visitors. In 2025, Tōhoku continues to rebuild, buoyed by the determination of its people and national and international support, while remaining vigilant in the face of future challenges.
