That meant exports fell for their 21st straight month, marking the longest run of declines since a 23-month run through July 1987.

Japan's exports extend double-digit declines

Last month, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the country’s longest-serving leader, resigned from his position citing health reasons

WION Dispatch: Japan ruling party elects Yoshihide Suga as PM Abe's successor

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was being expected to turn out people's favourite in the upcoming elections to replace former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the opinion polls are now supporting that assumption.

According to a poll published by a local daily newspaper on Thursday, Suga is the frontrunner in the election race, as around 44 per cent survey-takers said they would like to see Suga replacing Abe.

The longest-serving Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, had to step down from his post last month confirming the rumours doing rounds about&nbsp;his ill-health.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/abes-longtime-aid-yoshihide-suga-to-run-for-leadership-race-324791">Also read:&nbsp;Abe's longtime aid Yoshihide Suga to run for leadership race</a>

The elections for the post of Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) head are scheduled for Setember 14. Suga will be competing against former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida. However, political experts are predicting Suga's win. The prediction has been supported by the poll as 36 per cent said they would like to see the former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba replacing Abe, whereas 44 per cent supported Suga.

September 08 was the last day for leaders to file their nomination, and the leaders are now allowed to start campaigning for the race.

The poll was conducted by the&nbsp;Social Survey Research Centre and was published in a local daily newspaper&nbsp; Mainichi Shimbun.

The poll has come few days after Suga hinted pushing for snap elections and said he is hopeful about <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-suga-hopeful-about-tokyo-olympic-games-amid-falling-economy-325911">Tokyo Olympic Games</a>.&nbsp;”We’d like to contain the pandemic and make this happen,” he said. ”There are various, extraordinary merits for Japan to host the Games.”

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was being expected to turn out people's favourite in the upcoming elections to replace former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the opinion polls are now supporting that assumption.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga was being expected to turn out people's favourite in the upcoming elections to replace former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the opinion polls are now supporting that assumption. According to a poll published by a local daily newspaper on Thursday, Suga is the frontrunner in the election race, as around 44 per cent survey-takers said they would like to see Suga replacing Abe. The longest-serving Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, had to step down from his post last month confirming the rumours doing rounds about his ill-health. Also read: Abe's longtime aid Yoshihide Suga to run for leadership race The elections for the post of Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) head are scheduled for Setember 14. Suga will be competing against former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida. However, political experts are predicting Suga's win. The prediction has been supported by the poll as 36 per cent said they would like to see the former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba replacing Abe, whereas 44 per cent supported Suga. September 08 was the last day for leaders to file their nomination, and the leaders are now allowed to start campaigning for the race. The poll was conducted by the Social Survey Research Centre and was published in a local daily newspaper Mainichi Shimbun. The poll has come few days after Suga hinted pushing for snap elections and said he is hopeful about Tokyo Olympic Games. ”We’d like to contain the pandemic and make this happen,” he said. ”There are various, extraordinary merits for Japan to host the Games.”

Yoshihide Suga frontrunner in race to succeed Shinzo Abe: Poll

Japan's economy sank deeper into its worst postwar contraction in the second quarter as the coronavirus jolted businesses more than initially thought, underscoring the daunting task the new prime minister faces in averting a steeper recession.

Japan's economy sinks deeper, businesses delay fresh investments

Japan's ruling party on Tuesday kicked off the race to pick Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor, with his powerful right-hand man Yoshihide Suga commanding an all-but-insurmountable lead.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, the 71-year-old son of a strawberry farmer, has already secured the support of major factions in the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of its leadership vote on September 14.

But he isn't running unchallenged, with a popular former defence minister and the party's policy chief standing against him.

Thanks to the LDP's solid legislative majority, the race's winner is certain to win a parliamentary vote on September 16 and be named the country's next prime minister.

The LDP race began after Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, abruptly announced late August that he would resign for health reasons.

There is now speculation that the next prime minister may quickly call a snap election to shore up public support.

Representatives for Suga and his rivals -- former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and party policy chief Fumio Kishida -- formally registered their candidacies on Tuesday morning.

At a joint event for the candidates, Suga said he had decided to run to help avoid a "political vacuum" after Abe's departure, and that he would prioritise coronavirus containment while rebuilding an economy now in recession.

Ishiba meanwhile pledged a "great reset", and said he would "pour my whole body and soul into regional revitalisation".

Kishida said he too would focus on balancing infection measures with kickstarting the economy, and vowed to build a capable team.

"I would become a leader who does not seek to shine myself but to have each team member shine so as to have the best performance," he said.

The candidates will hold two public debates before the vote, which will poll LDP lawmakers and three party representatives from each of Japan's 47 regions.

A broader vote including rank-and-file party members was ruled out, with officials saying it would take too long to organise.

&nbsp;

<h2>- 'A regular person like me' -</h2>

&nbsp;

Whoever takes the top office will face a raft of challenges -- from the coronavirus pandemic and a tanking economy to ensuring the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games can go ahead.

None of the three candidates is seen as offering a policy platform that would differ significantly from Abe's.

Former banker Ishiba, 63,&nbsp;is popular with the electorate and consistently topped polls before Abe's resignation.

A defence policy wonk, he supports strengthening the role of the country's Self-Defense Forces in the pacifist constitution.

But he is still regarded with suspicion by some in the LDP because he left the party for a time, serving as an independent and then with a rival party, before returning.

Kishida, also 63, was long viewed as Abe's heir apparent and considered the prime minister's favoured successor.

But he appeared to fall from grace more recently, with his proposal for a targeted stimulus being cast aside in favour of money for all residents, and Abe has declined to publicly support any one candidate.

Suga, who until recently denied any ambition for the top job, said he decided to run to continue Abe's programmes, especially his economic measures.

Raised in northern Japan's Akita region, Suga put himself through night college by working odd jobs before winning a Yokohama city council seat, and mentioned his background in his comments Tuesday.

"That a regular person like me can seek to become a prime minister,&nbsp;that's exactly Japan's democracy, isn't it?"

He has served as Abe's closest advisor and a powerful enforcer of government policy, considered able to bend Japan's vast bureaucracy to the government's will.

But while Abe rose to power by touting conservative policies including amending the constitution, little is known of Suga's ideology.

His policy interests tend towards the practical, including speeding up digitalisation of government agencies, cutting the cost of mobile services and increasing foreign tourism.

Japan's ruling party on Tuesday kicked off the race to pick Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor, with his powerful right-hand man Yoshihide Suga commanding an all-but-insurmountable lead.

Japan's ruling party on Tuesday kicked off the race to pick Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's successor, with his powerful right-hand man Yoshihide Suga commanding an all-but-insurmountable lead. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, the 71-year-old son of a strawberry farmer, has already secured the support of major factions in the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of its leadership vote on September 14. But he isn't running unchallenged, with a popular former defence minister and the party's policy chief standing against him. Thanks to the LDP's solid legislative majority, the race's winner is certain to win a parliamentary vote on September 16 and be named the country's next prime minister. The LDP race began after Abe, Japan's longest-serving premier, abruptly announced late August that he would resign for health reasons. There is now speculation that the next prime minister may quickly call a snap election to shore up public support. Representatives for Suga and his rivals -- former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and party policy chief Fumio Kishida -- formally registered their candidacies on Tuesday morning. At a joint event for the candidates, Suga said he had decided to run to help avoid a "political vacuum" after Abe's departure, and that he would prioritise coronavirus containment while rebuilding an economy now in recession. Ishiba meanwhile pledged a "great reset", and said he would "pour my whole body and soul into regional revitalisation". Kishida said he too would focus on balancing infection measures with kickstarting the economy, and vowed to build a capable team. "I would become a leader who does not seek to shine myself but to have each team member shine so as to have the best performance," he said. The candidates will hold two public debates before the vote, which will poll LDP lawmakers and three party representatives from each of Japan's 47 regions. A broader vote including rank-and-file party members was ruled out, with officials saying it would take too long to organise. - 'A regular person like me' - Whoever takes the top office will face a raft of challenges -- from the coronavirus pandemic and a tanking economy to ensuring the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games can go ahead. None of the three candidates is seen as offering a policy platform that would differ significantly from Abe's. Former banker Ishiba, 63, is popular with the electorate and consistently topped polls before Abe's resignation. A defence policy wonk, he supports strengthening the role of the country's Self-Defense Forces in the pacifist constitution. But he is still regarded with suspicion by some in the LDP because he left the party for a time, serving as an independent and then with a rival party, before returning. Kishida, also 63, was long viewed as Abe's heir apparent and considered the prime minister's favoured successor. But he appeared to fall from grace more recently, with his proposal for a targeted stimulus being cast aside in favour of money for all residents, and Abe has declined to publicly support any one candidate. Suga, who until recently denied any ambition for the top job, said he decided to run to continue Abe's programmes, especially his economic measures. Raised in northern Japan's Akita region, Suga put himself through night college by working odd jobs before winning a Yokohama city council seat, and mentioned his background in his comments Tuesday. "That a regular person like me can seek to become a prime minister, that's exactly Japan's democracy, isn't it?" He has served as Abe's closest advisor and a powerful enforcer of government policy, considered able to bend Japan's vast bureaucracy to the government's will. But while Abe rose to power by touting conservative policies including amending the constitution, little is known of Suga's ideology. His policy interests tend towards the practical, including speeding up digitalisation of government agencies, cutting the cost of mobile services and increasing foreign tourism.

Japan's ruling party launches race for Shinzo Abe's successor

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said the next Prime Minister will have the right to dissolve the parliament, hinting towards a possibility of snap election.

"There’s no change to my stance as chief cabinet minister that what the public wants from the government most is to focus on measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic,” Suga was quoted saying by local media.

”But the prime minister has the right to dissolve parliament (and call a snap election). If the next premier decides to call one, that should be the case. If not, it won’t happen,” he continued.

He also said he is hopeul about Tokyo Olympic Games, despite the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a decline in japan's economy. Suga believes the Tokyo Olympics will bring various benefits for Japan in these difficult times.

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”We’d like to contain the pandemic and make this happen,” he said. ”There are various, extraordinary merits for Japan to host the Games.”

Suga is contesting for upcoming elections to replace the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to his ill-health. There have been speculations of Suga pushing for a snap elections to tighten his grip on the post,&nbsp;especially since the&nbsp;opinion polls showed a jump in voter approval of Suga.

The elections for the post of&nbsp;Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) head are scheduled for Setember 14. Suga will be competing against&nbsp;former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida. However, political experts are predicting Suga's win.

&nbsp;

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said the next Prime Minister will have the right to dissolve the parliament, hinting towards a possibility of snap election.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said the next Prime Minister will have the right to dissolve the parliament, hinting towards a possibility of snap election. "There’s no change to my stance as chief cabinet minister that what the public wants from the government most is to focus on measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic,” Suga was quoted saying by local media. ”But the prime minister has the right to dissolve parliament (and call a snap election). If the next premier decides to call one, that should be the case. If not, it won’t happen,” he continued. He also said he is hopeul about Tokyo Olympic Games, despite the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which led to a decline in japan's economy. Suga believes the Tokyo Olympics will bring various benefits for Japan in these difficult times. × ”We’d like to contain the pandemic and make this happen,” he said. ”There are various, extraordinary merits for Japan to host the Games.” Suga is contesting for upcoming elections to replace the former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who resigned due to his ill-health. There have been speculations of Suga pushing for a snap elections to tighten his grip on the post, especially since the opinion polls showed a jump in voter approval of Suga. The elections for the post of Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) head are scheduled for Setember 14. Suga will be competing against former defence minister Shigeru Ishiba and ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida. However, political experts are predicting Suga's win.

Japan's Suga hopeful about Tokyo Olympic Games amid falling economy

At least, 40 people have been injured as Typhoon Haishen battered Japan's southern mainland, news agencies reported. 
 
The Haishen typhoon, which has been raging across northeast Asia since the weekend, have inflicted significant damage to electricity lines, causing blackouts in more than 411,000 households. The railroad traffic was reportedly disrupted and 579 flights canceled due to the typhoon. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-haishen-hits-japan-violent-winds-and-heavy-rains-lash-the-country-325571">Also read | Typhoon Haishen hits Japan, violent winds and heavy rains lash the country</a> 
 
Yesterday, Typhoon Haishen hit Japan and bringing in its wake violent winds gusting up to 216 kmh (135 miles) and heavy rains. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted "record-level rainfall, landslides and floods. Surging tides are expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths.

After lashing a string of exposed, remote southern islands, Haishen neared Japan's Kyushu region on Sunday evening, with authorities issues evacuation advisories for more than seven million residents.

According to the report, more than 8.5 million people were either recommended or ordered to evacuate and seek shelter due to the threat of floods and landslides associated with the typhoon.

(With inputs from agencies)

At least, 40 people have been injured as Typhoon Haishen battered Japan's southern mainland, news agencies reported. The Haishen typhoon, which has been raging across northeast Asia since the weekend, have inflicted significant damage to electricity lines, causing blackouts in more than 411,000 households.

At least, 40 people have been injured as Typhoon Haishen battered Japan's southern mainland, news agencies reported. The Haishen typhoon, which has been raging across northeast Asia since the weekend, have inflicted significant damage to electricity lines, causing blackouts in more than 411,000 households. The railroad traffic was reportedly disrupted and 579 flights canceled due to the typhoon. Also read | Typhoon Haishen hits Japan, violent winds and heavy rains lash the country Yesterday, Typhoon Haishen hit Japan and bringing in its wake violent winds gusting up to 216 kmh (135 miles) and heavy rains. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted "record-level rainfall, landslides and floods. Surging tides are expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths. After lashing a string of exposed, remote southern islands, Haishen neared Japan's Kyushu region on Sunday evening, with authorities issues evacuation advisories for more than seven million residents. According to the report, more than 8.5 million people were either recommended or ordered to evacuate and seek shelter due to the threat of floods and landslides associated with the typhoon. (With inputs from agencies)

Forty people injured in Japan due to typhoon Haishen: Reports

After wrecking Japan, Typhoon Haishen makes landfall in South Korea

Typhoon Haishen on Sunday drew closer to Japan's southern mainland. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA), authorities urged evacuation for over 100,000 households in the southern region of Okinawa, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki.

Typhoon Haishen on Sunday drew closer to Japan's southern mainland. According to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA), authorities urged evacuation for over 100,000 households in the southern region of Okinawa, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Nagasaki. Over 3,000 houses have witnessed power cuts in Okinawa and over 8,000 homes in Amamioshima, according to national broadcaster NHK. FDMA reported two injuries despite advising the highest levels of caution for a typhoon. "Areas where the typhoon passes are expected to see record high winds and waves," a meteorological official told a nationally televised news conference on Sunday. "I am urging everyone to take the utmost caution, follow local authorities' instructions and protect your own life. Once you enter an area of high wind, you may not be able to move to a safer place." The wind speed of the typhoon is forecasted to be up to 252 km (157 miles) per hour by Monday, the meteorological agency said. Typhoon Haishen follows Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall on the Korean peninsula on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and thousands temporarily without power. (Inputs from Reuters)

Typhoon Haishen closes in as Japan braces for strong wind and heavy rain

Typhoon Haishen hit Japan on Sunday and bringing in its wake violent winds gusting up to 216 kmh (135 miles) and heavy rains. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted "record-level rainfall, landslides and floods. Surging tides are expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths.

After lashing a string of exposed, remote southern islands, Haishen neared Japan's Kyushu region on Sunday evening, with authorities issues evacuation advisories for more than seven million residents.

As the storm passed over several remote islands earlier Sunday, strong winds bent palm trees and sheets of rain lashed the area.

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe goes in a huddle:

At an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that flooding and landslides were a possibility.

"Maximum caution is needed as record rain, violent winds, high waves and high tides are possible," he said.

"I ask the Japanese people, including those who live in high-risk areas for flooding rivers or high tides, to stay informed and take action immediately to ensure their safety," he added.

At 7 pm (1000 GMT), Haishen was located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) south-southwest of Makurazaki city.

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&nbsp;

The storm was forecast to move north and travel off the western coast of Kyushu before reaching South Korea Monday morning, according to the weather agency.

Authorities order evacuation of people:

Authorities issued evacuation orders for 1.8 million people in the affected area, with 5.6 million people issued lower-level advisories, national broadcaster NHK said.

Evacuation orders in Japan are not compulsory, though authorities strongly urge people to follow them.

Local officials asked people to avoid crowded shelters where possible, to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, and some shelters were forced to turn people away in order to have enough space to maintain social distancing.&nbsp;

In some places, residents were checking into local hotels to comply with evacuations advisories.

Hotel Polaris in Shibushi city, Kagoshima, said all 73 of its rooms were sold out for the weekend.

"This is a large building for our area. I think our guests have chosen to stay with us to feel safe," front desk employee Takayuki Shinmura told AFP, adding that it was unusual for all of the hotel's rooms to be occupied during typhoons.

Also Read: <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/japan-orders-evacuation-of-over-810000-people-as-typhoon-haishen-approaches-reports-325536">Japan orders evacuation of over 810,000 people as typhoon Haishen approaches: Reports</a>

Those who sought hotel rooms said the pandemic and discomfort of public shelters were weighing on them.

"I am worried about coronavirus infections. We're with small children too, so we did not want other people to see us as big trouble," an elderly man in Shibushi city told NHK after checking in at a local hotel with seven relatives.

The storm has forced the cancellation of nearly 550 flights and disrupted train services, NHK said.

Many factories also suspended operations, including three plants operated by Toyota.

A total of 79,000 homes in Kagoshima and neighbouring Miyazaki lost power Sunday evening as the storm approached the region.

Haishen forced the Japanese coast guard to suspend its search for dozens of missing sailors from the Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship that sank in an earlier storm.

Two survivors and the body of a third crew member were found before the search was suspended, and the coast guard said it will resume the operation when Haishen clears the region.

(With AFP inputs)

Typhoon Haishen hit Japan on Sunday and bringing in its wake violent winds gusting up to 216 kmh (135 miles) and heavy rains. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted "record-level rainfall, landslides and floods.

Typhoon Haishen hit Japan on Sunday and bringing in its wake violent winds gusting up to 216 kmh (135 miles) and heavy rains. Japan Meteorological Agency predicted "record-level rainfall, landslides and floods. Surging tides are expected to cause flooding in low-lying areas, particularly around river mouths. After lashing a string of exposed, remote southern islands, Haishen neared Japan's Kyushu region on Sunday evening, with authorities issues evacuation advisories for more than seven million residents. As the storm passed over several remote islands earlier Sunday, strong winds bent palm trees and sheets of rain lashed the area. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe goes in a huddle: At an emergency cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned that flooding and landslides were a possibility. "Maximum caution is needed as record rain, violent winds, high waves and high tides are possible," he said. "I ask the Japanese people, including those who live in high-risk areas for flooding rivers or high tides, to stay informed and take action immediately to ensure their safety," he added. At 7 pm (1000 GMT), Haishen was located about 100 kilometres (62 miles) south-southwest of Makurazaki city. × The storm was forecast to move north and travel off the western coast of Kyushu before reaching South Korea Monday morning, according to the weather agency. Authorities order evacuation of people: Authorities issued evacuation orders for 1.8 million people in the affected area, with 5.6 million people issued lower-level advisories, national broadcaster NHK said. Evacuation orders in Japan are not compulsory, though authorities strongly urge people to follow them. Local officials asked people to avoid crowded shelters where possible, to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, and some shelters were forced to turn people away in order to have enough space to maintain social distancing. In some places, residents were checking into local hotels to comply with evacuations advisories. Hotel Polaris in Shibushi city, Kagoshima, said all 73 of its rooms were sold out for the weekend. "This is a large building for our area. I think our guests have chosen to stay with us to feel safe," front desk employee Takayuki Shinmura told AFP, adding that it was unusual for all of the hotel's rooms to be occupied during typhoons. Also Read: Japan orders evacuation of over 810,000 people as typhoon Haishen approaches: Reports Those who sought hotel rooms said the pandemic and discomfort of public shelters were weighing on them. "I am worried about coronavirus infections. We're with small children too, so we did not want other people to see us as big trouble," an elderly man in Shibushi city told NHK after checking in at a local hotel with seven relatives. The storm has forced the cancellation of nearly 550 flights and disrupted train services, NHK said. Many factories also suspended operations, including three plants operated by Toyota. A total of 79,000 homes in Kagoshima and neighbouring Miyazaki lost power Sunday evening as the storm approached the region. Haishen forced the Japanese coast guard to suspend its search for dozens of missing sailors from the Gulf Livestock 1 cargo ship that sank in an earlier storm. Two survivors and the body of a third crew member were found before the search was suspended, and the coast guard said it will resume the operation when Haishen clears the region. (With AFP inputs)

Typhoon Haishen hits Japan, violent winds and heavy rains lash the country

Japan's national broadcaster NHK has reported that more than 810,000 people living in Japan’s southern and southwestern prefectures were ordered to immediately evacuate on Sunday due to approaching Typhoon Haishen.

The evacuation was recommended to another 5.5 million people in 10 prefectures of the country.

According to Japan’s weather officials, Haishen, at 17:00 local time (08:00 GMT) was 70 kilometres (43 miles) away from the country’s southern Yakushima Island and was en route to the north at 35 kilometres per hour (22 miles per hour).

"Areas where the typhoon passes are expected to see record-high winds and waves," a meteorological official told a nationally televised news conference on Sunday.

"I am urging everyone to take the utmost caution, follow local authorities' instructions and protect your own life. Once you enter an area of high wind, you may not be able to move to a safer place."

The wind speed of the typhoon is forecasted to be up to 252 km (157 miles) per hour by Monday, the meteorological agency said.

Typhoon Haishen follows Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall on the Korean peninsula on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and thousands temporarily without power.

(Inputs from agencies)

Japan's national broadcaster NHK has reported that more than 810,000 people living in Japan’s southern and southwestern prefectures were ordered to immediately evacuate on Sunday due to approaching Typhoon Haishen.

Japan's national broadcaster NHK has reported that more than 810,000 people living in Japan’s southern and southwestern prefectures were ordered to immediately evacuate on Sunday due to approaching Typhoon Haishen. The evacuation was recommended to another 5.5 million people in 10 prefectures of the country. According to Japan’s weather officials, Haishen, at 17:00 local time (08:00 GMT) was 70 kilometres (43 miles) away from the country’s southern Yakushima Island and was en route to the north at 35 kilometres per hour (22 miles per hour). "Areas where the typhoon passes are expected to see record-high winds and waves," a meteorological official told a nationally televised news conference on Sunday. "I am urging everyone to take the utmost caution, follow local authorities' instructions and protect your own life. Once you enter an area of high wind, you may not be able to move to a safer place." The wind speed of the typhoon is forecasted to be up to 252 km (157 miles) per hour by Monday, the meteorological agency said. Typhoon Haishen follows Typhoon Maysak, which made landfall on the Korean peninsula on Thursday, leaving at least two dead and thousands temporarily without power. (Inputs from agencies)

Japan orders evacuation of over 810,000 people as typhoon Haishen approaches: Reports

A livestock ship carrying 6,000 cattle has capsized off the coast of Japan. Now, the cattle carcasses are floating at sea. Only one crew member has been found alive. This is not a first-of-its-kind tragedy.

Gravitas: Cattle Ship Capsizes Off Japan Coast

The biggest takeaway from this pandemic has been a singlemost thing -- China cannot be trusted.

But punishing China hasn't been easy because it remains at the centre of global commerce.

So what is the world doing about it? It is creating alternatives.

The next battleground, hence, is global supply chains. At the moment, China controls them.

But India is leading a new alliance to change that. Three countries have come together for this -- India, Japan and Australia.

They have struck, what you can call, a supply chain pact.

The mission is clear -- challenge China's dominance as an export hub.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at an India-US summit on Thursday and used the occasion to pitch India as the next export hub. He said global supply chains must be built on trust, and not just cost.

His message was loud and clear -- the world has learned this lesson the hard way.

According to a UN estimate, the coronavirus outbreak could have led to a $-50 billion decrease in exports across global value chains.

This means a loss of $50 billion.

This is the price global businesses have paid for a slowdown in china. They need alternatives. And that's what India, Australia and Japan want to provide -- another global supply chain.

To understand how big the task is, one must know what China has.

In 2019, China shipped more than $ 2 trillion worth of goods around the globe.

Chinese goods go to practically every corner of the world. So this map should show all the countries.

But here, we've only put China's 10 biggest trading partners. The list includes the United States, the European Union, ASEAN nations, and even, India.

Earlier this week, trade ministers from all three countries took a decision. India, Australia and Japan have decided to build a "resilient supply chain".

PM Modi proposed reshaping global supply chains based on trust and stability. This is a declaration of a new alliance. And they're already hurting the dragon.

India is now in the race to replace China because of some recent decisions. Their impact is beginning to show.

In March, India announced incentives for niche firms. Under this, companies which are manufactured in India, will be eligible for a payment of 4-6 per cent of their incremental sales over the next five years.

It means savings for these companies. Most probably, this money will come back to the firms in the form of tax savings.

Global manufacters of electronics have also taken notice of India's decision.

About two dozen companies have now pledged 1.5 billion dollars worth of investments. This is to set up mobile phone factories in india.

On the other hand, Japan is taking some special steps to create this Indo-Pacific supply chain.

In short, Japan is encouraging companies to leave China by offering them a subsidy if they do so.

For this, Japan has set aside $221 million.

It is for companies that exit China and move back to Japan or Southeast Asia.

Japan has also added India and Bangladesh to that list.

To this end, 30 Japanese companies have already signed up to move from China to Southeast Asia.

Australia is also fighting a trade battle with china.

Australia demanded a global investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. And China wasn't happy. It slapped tarrifs on Australian imports and banned its groups.

So now, Australia has joined India and Japan to find new markets for its goods and companies.

This is just the beginning. And the endgame is economic distancing from China.

The biggest takeaway from this pandemic has been a singlemost thing -- China cannot be trusted. But punishing China hasn't been easy because it remains at the centre of global commerce.

The biggest takeaway from this pandemic has been a singlemost thing -- China cannot be trusted. But punishing China hasn't been easy because it remains at the centre of global commerce. So what is the world doing about it? It is creating alternatives. The next battleground, hence, is global supply chains. At the moment, China controls them. But India is leading a new alliance to change that. Three countries have come together for this -- India, Japan and Australia. They have struck, what you can call, a supply chain pact. The mission is clear -- challenge China's dominance as an export hub. × Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a speech at an India-US summit on Thursday and used the occasion to pitch India as the next export hub. He said global supply chains must be built on trust, and not just cost. His message was loud and clear -- the world has learned this lesson the hard way. According to a UN estimate, the coronavirus outbreak could have led to a $-50 billion decrease in exports across global value chains. This means a loss of $50 billion. This is the price global businesses have paid for a slowdown in china. They need alternatives. And that's what India, Australia and Japan want to provide -- another global supply chain. To understand how big the task is, one must know what China has. In 2019, China shipped more than $ 2 trillion worth of goods around the globe. Chinese goods go to practically every corner of the world. So this map should show all the countries. But here, we've only put China's 10 biggest trading partners. The list includes the United States, the European Union, ASEAN nations, and even, India. Earlier this week, trade ministers from all three countries took a decision. India, Australia and Japan have decided to build a "resilient supply chain". PM Modi proposed reshaping global supply chains based on trust and stability. This is a declaration of a new alliance. And they're already hurting the dragon. India is now in the race to replace China because of some recent decisions. Their impact is beginning to show. In March, India announced incentives for niche firms. Under this, companies which are manufactured in India, will be eligible for a payment of 4-6 per cent of their incremental sales over the next five years. It means savings for these companies. Most probably, this money will come back to the firms in the form of tax savings. Global manufacters of electronics have also taken notice of India's decision. About two dozen companies have now pledged 1.5 billion dollars worth of investments. This is to set up mobile phone factories in india. On the other hand, Japan is taking some special steps to create this Indo-Pacific supply chain. In short, Japan is encouraging companies to leave China by offering them a subsidy if they do so. For this, Japan has set aside $221 million. It is for companies that exit China and move back to Japan or Southeast Asia. Japan has also added India and Bangladesh to that list. To this end, 30 Japanese companies have already signed up to move from China to Southeast Asia. Australia is also fighting a trade battle with china. Australia demanded a global investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. And China wasn't happy. It slapped tarrifs on Australian imports and banned its groups. So now, Australia has joined India and Japan to find new markets for its goods and companies. This is just the beginning. And the endgame is economic distancing from China.

How India, Japan and Australia have joined hands to punish China

Sareno Edvardo is the only survivor from the ship that sunk off the&nbsp;coast of Japan. One of his mates is dead, 41 others are still missing at sea. The crew of 43 had 39 people from the Philippines, two are from New Zealand and&nbsp;two from Australia.

Their ship sunk off the coast of Japan in the East China sea.&nbsp;It was sailing from New Zealand to China carrying 6,000 cattle. Now, thousands of dead cows are floating at sea. and it is not clear when the cargo container went down.

It sent a distress signal as typhoon maysak struck with strong winds on September 02.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/search-for-ship-survivors-on-as-typhoon-haishen-nears-japan-325178">Also read:&nbsp;Search for ship survivors on as Typhoon Haishen nears Japan</a>

The rescued filippino crew member,&nbsp;Sareno Edvardo, says the ship stalled when one of the engines stopped working. It capsized after being hit by a powerful broadside wave and eventually sank to the bottom of the ocean.

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This is not the first time a livestock ship has capsized.

Over the last decade, at least six livestock carriers have gone down. All these ships had mechanical failures.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/indian-coast-guard-rescues-captain-crew-member-from-burning-oil-tanker-off-sl-coast-325230">Also read:&nbsp;Indian Coast Guard rescues captain, crew member from burning oil tanker off SL Coast</a>

In 2009, a cargo ship carrying 82 crew members and 43,000 cattle sank close to the lebanese coast. The ship overturned in stormy weather. It was transporting cattle from Uruguay to Syria. A total of&nbsp;39 crew members were rescued, and others were presumed dead. Most of the cattle drowned in the sea.

In 2015, a ship enroute from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates went down in the Gulf of Aden. Nearly&nbsp;29 crew members were rescued, but two remained missing and 3,000 animals on board perished at sea.

In the same year, 5,000 cows fell into the ocean off the coast of Brazil. This occured after a lebanese ship docked at Vila do Conde&nbsp;port capsized. All the crew members were safely rescued,&nbsp;the cows drowned and many washed up on the shores of the port.

In November last year, a livestock carrier with 14,000 sheep sunk near a port in Romania. All 20 Syrian crew members were rescued. Around 30 sheep were found swimming in the ocean, but most of the livestock went down with the ship.

Shipping livestock on the high seas is a high-risk trade. All those on board, the crew and animals are at the mercy of nature, be it heat, storms or high seas.

Despite the dangers and the tragedies, hundreds of ships sail each day with a defenseless crew and thousands of vulnerable animals on board.

Sareno Edvardo is the only survivor from the ship that sunk off the coast of Japan. One of his mates is dead, 41 others are still missing at sea. The crew of 43 had 39 people from the Philippines, two are from New Zealand and two from Australia.

Sareno Edvardo is the only survivor from the ship that sunk off the coast of Japan. One of his mates is dead, 41 others are still missing at sea. The crew of 43 had 39 people from the Philippines, two are from New Zealand and two from Australia. Their ship sunk off the coast of Japan in the East China sea. It was sailing from New Zealand to China carrying 6,000 cattle. Now, thousands of dead cows are floating at sea. and it is not clear when the cargo container went down. It sent a distress signal as typhoon maysak struck with strong winds on September 02. Also read: Search for ship survivors on as Typhoon Haishen nears Japan The rescued filippino crew member, Sareno Edvardo, says the ship stalled when one of the engines stopped working. It capsized after being hit by a powerful broadside wave and eventually sank to the bottom of the ocean. × This is not the first time a livestock ship has capsized. Over the last decade, at least six livestock carriers have gone down. All these ships had mechanical failures. Also read: Indian Coast Guard rescues captain, crew member from burning oil tanker off SL Coast In 2009, a cargo ship carrying 82 crew members and 43,000 cattle sank close to the lebanese coast. The ship overturned in stormy weather. It was transporting cattle from Uruguay to Syria. A total of 39 crew members were rescued, and others were presumed dead. Most of the cattle drowned in the sea. In 2015, a ship enroute from Somalia to the United Arab Emirates went down in the Gulf of Aden. Nearly 29 crew members were rescued, but two remained missing and 3,000 animals on board perished at sea. In the same year, 5,000 cows fell into the ocean off the coast of Brazil. This occured after a lebanese ship docked at Vila do Conde port capsized. All the crew members were safely rescued, the cows drowned and many washed up on the shores of the port. In November last year, a livestock carrier with 14,000 sheep sunk near a port in Romania. All 20 Syrian crew members were rescued. Around 30 sheep were found swimming in the ocean, but most of the livestock went down with the ship. Shipping livestock on the high seas is a high-risk trade. All those on board, the crew and animals are at the mercy of nature, be it heat, storms or high seas. Despite the dangers and the tragedies, hundreds of ships sail each day with a defenseless crew and thousands of vulnerable animals on board.

One sailor survives sinking ship off the coast of Japan; search operation continues

Japanese authorities have temporarily suspended the search for missing sailors of the ship that sank off the coast of Japan in a typhoon.

The Japan coastguard found two survivors on Friday, and the search was resumed on Saturday morning too. However, it had to be suspended when the search team came back without any survivor or clues.

"We resumed our search operation this morning by dispatching an airplane, but it returned without any clues," a local coastguard official said.

On Wednesday,&nbsp;Gulf Livestock 1, a ship populated by 43 crew members and transporting livestock, sank after issuing a distress signal. The incident happened near Amami Oshima island as Typhoon Maysak passed through the area.

Since then, the Japanese coastguard have been trying to find survivors, but have not been very successful.

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However, now the coastguard are having to suspend the search as the typhoon Haishen&nbsp;is expected to hit Japan soon with winds of up to 290 kilometres per hour (180 miles per hour). The storm has been classified as a "violent storm".

The search operation will resume as soon as the storm lightens enough to make it safe for the coastguard to get back in the sea, which is expected to be on Monday. The rescue team will be searching for the rest of the crew which includes&nbsp;The crew was made up of 37&nbsp;Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians and the livestock.

Till then, the officials have urged everyone to stay home, and all the islanders have be put on full alert. Companies such as Toyoya and Mitsubishi have also suspended all operations for the timebeing.

"We urge all of our islanders to be on full alert as winds are getting stronger and expected to be violent," said Hidehito Iha, a local government official.

Japanese authorities have temporarily suspended the search for missing sailors of the ship that sank off the coast of Japan in a typhoon. The Japan coastguard found two survivors on Friday, and the search was resumed on Saturday morning too.

Japanese authorities have temporarily suspended the search for missing sailors of the ship that sank off the coast of Japan in a typhoon. The Japan coastguard found two survivors on Friday, and the search was resumed on Saturday morning too. However, it had to be suspended when the search team came back without any survivor or clues. "We resumed our search operation this morning by dispatching an airplane, but it returned without any clues," a local coastguard official said. On Wednesday, Gulf Livestock 1, a ship populated by 43 crew members and transporting livestock, sank after issuing a distress signal. The incident happened near Amami Oshima island as Typhoon Maysak passed through the area. Since then, the Japanese coastguard have been trying to find survivors, but have not been very successful. × However, now the coastguard are having to suspend the search as the typhoon Haishen is expected to hit Japan soon with winds of up to 290 kilometres per hour (180 miles per hour). The storm has been classified as a "violent storm". The search operation will resume as soon as the storm lightens enough to make it safe for the coastguard to get back in the sea, which is expected to be on Monday. The rescue team will be searching for the rest of the crew which includes The crew was made up of 37 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians and the livestock. Till then, the officials have urged everyone to stay home, and all the islanders have be put on full alert. Companies such as Toyoya and Mitsubishi have also suspended all operations for the timebeing. "We urge all of our islanders to be on full alert as winds are getting stronger and expected to be violent," said Hidehito Iha, a local government official.

Rescue operation for ship survivors suspended as Typhoon Haishen nears Japan; alerts issued

Japanese authorities have been scrambling to find the dozens of people who went missing after a cargo ship carrying 6,000 cows sank in a typhoon as a second, much more powerful, storm drew nearer.

Just one survivor has so far been rescued of the 43 crew on board, with a second person found dead.

Typhoon Haishen is forecast to tear through the area from late Saturday, packing winds of up to 288 kilometres per hour (180 miles per hour), making it a "violent" storm -- the top level on Japan's classification scale.

The Gulf Livestock 1 issued a distress call early on Wednesday as Typhoon Maysak -- which brought smaller gusts of up to 162 kph -- moved through the area off Japan's west coast.

On Wednesday evening, coastguard rescuers found one survivor who said he had put on a life jacket and jumped into the sea after a warning announcement on board.

The 45-year-old Filipino chief officer said one of the boat's engines had stalled and the vessel was overturned by a powerful wave before eventually sinking.

Precisely when and where it sank remained unclear.

Dramatic footage released by the coastguard showed the treacherous conditions in the area, with the man bobbing in the open ocean in an orange life jacket and rescuers battling violent waves to pull him on to their boat with a rope.

He was moved to a larger boat and wrapped with blankets.

There, however, have been few signs of other survivors. A rubber dinghy was spotted on Wednesday with no one on board and an empty life jacket was retrieved, the coastguard said.

Dead livestock from the boat have also been seen in the waves.

Four coastguard vessels, a defence ministry plane and specially trained divers are involved in the search.

The storm was expected to begin affecting areas including Okinawa in southern Japan and parts of western Kyushu from Saturday night to Monday, and the government warned residents to prepare.

In preparation, water was being emptied from behind dams to make room for heavy rainfall and a quick response system to warn residents was being activated, he added.

The Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying a crew of 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians, and was travelling from Napier in New Zealand to the Chinese port of Tangshan.

It had experienced engine problems before: a 2019 observer report by Australian authorities noted that the boat was forced to drift at sea for 25 hours after an issue with its main engine while en route to China.

Japanese authorities have been scrambling to find the dozens of people who went missing after a cargo ship carrying 6,000 cows sank in a typhoon as a second, much more powerful, storm drew nearer.

Japanese authorities have been scrambling to find the dozens of people who went missing after a cargo ship carrying 6,000 cows sank in a typhoon as a second, much more powerful, storm drew nearer. Just one survivor has so far been rescued of the 43 crew on board, with a second person found dead. Typhoon Haishen is forecast to tear through the area from late Saturday, packing winds of up to 288 kilometres per hour (180 miles per hour), making it a "violent" storm -- the top level on Japan's classification scale. The Gulf Livestock 1 issued a distress call early on Wednesday as Typhoon Maysak -- which brought smaller gusts of up to 162 kph -- moved through the area off Japan's west coast. On Wednesday evening, coastguard rescuers found one survivor who said he had put on a life jacket and jumped into the sea after a warning announcement on board. The 45-year-old Filipino chief officer said one of the boat's engines had stalled and the vessel was overturned by a powerful wave before eventually sinking. Precisely when and where it sank remained unclear. Dramatic footage released by the coastguard showed the treacherous conditions in the area, with the man bobbing in the open ocean in an orange life jacket and rescuers battling violent waves to pull him on to their boat with a rope. He was moved to a larger boat and wrapped with blankets. There, however, have been few signs of other survivors. A rubber dinghy was spotted on Wednesday with no one on board and an empty life jacket was retrieved, the coastguard said. Dead livestock from the boat have also been seen in the waves. Four coastguard vessels, a defence ministry plane and specially trained divers are involved in the search. The storm was expected to begin affecting areas including Okinawa in southern Japan and parts of western Kyushu from Saturday night to Monday, and the government warned residents to prepare. In preparation, water was being emptied from behind dams to make room for heavy rainfall and a quick response system to warn residents was being activated, he added. The Gulf Livestock 1 was carrying a crew of 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians, and was travelling from Napier in New Zealand to the Chinese port of Tangshan. It had experienced engine problems before: a 2019 observer report by Australian authorities noted that the boat was forced to drift at sea for 25 hours after an issue with its main engine while en route to China.

Search for ship survivors on as Typhoon Haishen nears Japan

A cargo ship, which carried 43 crew members and nearly 6,000 cows, sank after encountering a typhoon in the East China Sea, one of the rescued survivors said on Thursday.&nbsp;

The Gulf Livestock 1 made a distress call early on Wednesday from a position 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of Japan's Amami Oshima island when Typhoon Maysak was approaching towards them, causing strong winds and heavy showers.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-leader-kim-jon-un-says-typhoon-bavi-caused-little-damage-323595">North Korea leader Kim Jon-un says Typhoon Bavi caused 'little damage'</a>

On Wednesday night (Tokyo time), coastguards located one survivor Sareno Edvarodo, who jumped off the ship wearing a life jacked after the ship issued an alert.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/typhoon-vongfong-strikes-philippines-over-150000-people-being-evacuated-298857">Typhoon 'Vongfong' strikes Philippines, over 150,000 people being evacuated</a>

The 45-year-old survivor from the Philippines said one the cargo ship's engines stalled and later the waves capsized the ship, a coastguard said in a statement.

He also said he did not see any other crew members alive seeking rescue help.&nbsp;

Presently, three coast guard vessels, five aeroplanes and two divers had been deployed to conduct the search-and-rescue operation, the Japanese coastguard said.&nbsp;

Rhe ship which departed from New Zealand and heading towards China, carried 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians, along with 5,800 cows.&nbsp;

The Philippines government said it was working with the coastguard to find the missing crew members ahead of another typhoon that is likely to hit the region.&nbsp;

(With AFP, Reuters inputs) 
&nbsp;

A cargo ship, which carried 43 crew members and nearly 6,000 cows, sank after encountering a typhoon in the East China Sea, one of the rescued survivors said on Thursday.

A cargo ship, which carried 43 crew members and nearly 6,000 cows, sank after encountering a typhoon in the East China Sea, one of the rescued survivors said on Thursday. The Gulf Livestock 1 made a distress call early on Wednesday from a position 185 kilometres (115 miles) west of Japan's Amami Oshima island when Typhoon Maysak was approaching towards them, causing strong winds and heavy showers. Also read | North Korea leader Kim Jon-un says Typhoon Bavi caused 'little damage' On Wednesday night (Tokyo time), coastguards located one survivor Sareno Edvarodo, who jumped off the ship wearing a life jacked after the ship issued an alert. Also read | Typhoon 'Vongfong' strikes Philippines, over 150,000 people being evacuated The 45-year-old survivor from the Philippines said one the cargo ship's engines stalled and later the waves capsized the ship, a coastguard said in a statement. He also said he did not see any other crew members alive seeking rescue help. Presently, three coast guard vessels, five aeroplanes and two divers had been deployed to conduct the search-and-rescue operation, the Japanese coastguard said. Rhe ship which departed from New Zealand and heading towards China, carried 39 Filipinos, two New Zealanders and two Australians, along with 5,800 cows. The Philippines government said it was working with the coastguard to find the missing crew members ahead of another typhoon that is likely to hit the region. (With AFP, Reuters inputs)

One person rescued after cargo ship with 43 people sank off Japan due to typhoon

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered theatres across Japan. With audiences and performers already dwindling even before the pandemic, some in the industry of traditional Japanese Noh play fear the virus may sound the death knell for an art considered one of the oldest extant theatre forms in the world.

Can Japan's ancient Noh theatre survive coronavirus pandemic?

The coronavirus pandemic has shuttered theatres across Japan, and while other traditional art forms can rely on generous private backers or state subsidies, Noh depends heavily on staging shows.

Can Japan's ancient Noh theatre survive COVID-19?

After Japan's former Primer Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down fro, his post due to his ill health, people have been guessing which Japanese leaders will be contesting the elections to replace Abe.

A day after former Foreign Minister&nbsp;Fumio Kishida announced his plans to run for elections, Japanese&nbsp;Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, too, has formally announced his participation in the upcoming elections.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fumio-kishida-announces-candidacy-to-replace-japans-shinzo-abe-324437">Also read|&nbsp;Fumio Kishida announces candidacy to replace Japan's Shinzo Abe</a>

Suga had earlier declined rumours about running for elections. Abe's loyalist&nbsp;had last week emerged as a strong contender to succeed Abe. However, Suga politely declined the opportunity and instead said he would like to focus on uplifting the economy that has been hit due to the novel coronavirus. "We need to consider what we can do to prevent the economy from falling off a cliff," Suga had earlier said.

However, on Wednesday he announced that&nbsp;he has decided to stand for party leader to avoid a political vacuum during the coronavirus pandemic.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-will-replace-abe-and-when-japan-pms-resignation-sparks-leadership-race-323707">Also read|&nbsp;Who will replace Abe and when: Japan PM's resignation sparks leadership race</a>

"In this time of national crisis, we cannot permit a political vacuum," Suga told a briefing. "I decided to run after giving very deep thought to what I can do, as a politician and as a member of Abe`s administration, to bring back as soon as possible the day when people can live without fear."

Abe's longtime aid has made it clear that, if elected, he would continue Abe's aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus policies and singled out hard-hit rural areas.

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will now be hosting elections to replace him as its President on September 14. The candidates are required to register their names on September 08,&nbsp;and can start campaigning immediately after.&nbsp;The parliamentary vote for prime minister will be held on September 16.

After Japan's former Primer Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down fro, his post due to his ill health, people have been guessing which Japanese leaders will be contesting the elections to replace Abe.

After Japan's former Primer Minister Shinzo Abe stepped down fro, his post due to his ill health, people have been guessing which Japanese leaders will be contesting the elections to replace Abe. A day after former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida announced his plans to run for elections, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, too, has formally announced his participation in the upcoming elections. Also read| Fumio Kishida announces candidacy to replace Japan's Shinzo Abe Suga had earlier declined rumours about running for elections. Abe's loyalist had last week emerged as a strong contender to succeed Abe. However, Suga politely declined the opportunity and instead said he would like to focus on uplifting the economy that has been hit due to the novel coronavirus. "We need to consider what we can do to prevent the economy from falling off a cliff," Suga had earlier said. However, on Wednesday he announced that he has decided to stand for party leader to avoid a political vacuum during the coronavirus pandemic. Also read| Who will replace Abe and when: Japan PM's resignation sparks leadership race "In this time of national crisis, we cannot permit a political vacuum," Suga told a briefing. "I decided to run after giving very deep thought to what I can do, as a politician and as a member of Abe`s administration, to bring back as soon as possible the day when people can live without fear." Abe's longtime aid has made it clear that, if elected, he would continue Abe's aggressive fiscal and monetary stimulus policies and singled out hard-hit rural areas. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will now be hosting elections to replace him as its President on September 14. The candidates are required to register their names on September 08, and can start campaigning immediately after. The parliamentary vote for prime minister will be held on September 16.

Abe's longtime aid Yoshihide Suga to run for leadership race

Following the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation last week,&nbsp;Former Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida has officially announced that he would run for&nbsp;the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) election.

Kishida is seen as one of the favourites of Abe and had earlier, too, expressed his intentions to run for the elections. However, he has not managed to gain attraction from the masses.

Abe's resignation has brought in the announcement of&nbsp;unexpected elections to replace him.&nbsp;Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will now be hosting elections to replace him as its president, followed by a vote in parliament to elect a new Prime Minister for the country.

The party will be voting on September 14 and the candidates are required to register their names on September, and can start campaigning immediately after.&nbsp;An official announcement from the Liberal Democratic Party is expected either later Tuesday or Wednesday, but a decision on a limited vote that will exclude rank-and-file members has already been approved.

The&nbsp;parliamentary vote for prime minister will be held on September 16, according to local reports.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-will-replace-abe-and-when-japan-pms-resignation-sparks-leadership-race-323707">Also read|&nbsp;Who will replace Abe and when: Japan PM's resignation sparks leadership race</a>

Shinzo Abe resigned last week after weeks of speculation and rumours around his ill-health. The former Prime Minister of Japan has been battling&nbsp;the disease of ulcerative colitis for years and his two recent hospital visits within a week had sparked rumours and concerns about his wellbeing.

“I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post,” Abe said.

Earlier, last week,&nbsp;loyalist Yoshihide Suga, had&nbsp;emerged as a strong contender to succeed Abe as the prime minister. However, Suga politely declined the opportunity and said he doesn't want the job. Instead, he says, his focus is on uplifting the economy that has been hit due to the novel coronavirus. "We need to consider what we can do to prevent the economy from falling off a cliff," Suga said.

Other than him, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is also expected to contest the elctions. He has been an Abe-critic for a very long time, and says he aimsto revive Japan's regional economies. Unlike Kishida, Ishiba is favoured by the public, but not by Parliament members.

Many more names such as Taro Aso, Taro Kono, Shinjiro Koizumi, Toshimitsu Motegi, Katsunobu Kato, Seiko Noda have come forward. However, no official announcements have been made on these names.

Following the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation last week, Former Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida has officially announced that he would run for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) election.

Following the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's resignation last week, Former Japanese foreign minister Fumio Kishida has officially announced that he would run for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) election. Kishida is seen as one of the favourites of Abe and had earlier, too, expressed his intentions to run for the elections. However, he has not managed to gain attraction from the masses. Abe's resignation has brought in the announcement of unexpected elections to replace him. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will now be hosting elections to replace him as its president, followed by a vote in parliament to elect a new Prime Minister for the country. The party will be voting on September 14 and the candidates are required to register their names on September, and can start campaigning immediately after. An official announcement from the Liberal Democratic Party is expected either later Tuesday or Wednesday, but a decision on a limited vote that will exclude rank-and-file members has already been approved. The parliamentary vote for prime minister will be held on September 16, according to local reports. Also read| Who will replace Abe and when: Japan PM's resignation sparks leadership race Shinzo Abe resigned last week after weeks of speculation and rumours around his ill-health. The former Prime Minister of Japan has been battling the disease of ulcerative colitis for years and his two recent hospital visits within a week had sparked rumours and concerns about his wellbeing. “I cannot be prime minister if I cannot make the best decisions for the people. I have decided to step down from my post,” Abe said. Earlier, last week, loyalist Yoshihide Suga, had emerged as a strong contender to succeed Abe as the prime minister. However, Suga politely declined the opportunity and said he doesn't want the job. Instead, he says, his focus is on uplifting the economy that has been hit due to the novel coronavirus. "We need to consider what we can do to prevent the economy from falling off a cliff," Suga said. Other than him, former Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba, is also expected to contest the elctions. He has been an Abe-critic for a very long time, and says he aimsto revive Japan's regional economies. Unlike Kishida, Ishiba is favoured by the public, but not by Parliament members. Many more names such as Taro Aso, Taro Kono, Shinjiro Koizumi, Toshimitsu Motegi, Katsunobu Kato, Seiko Noda have come forward. However, no official announcements have been made on these names.

Fumio Kishida announces candidacy to replace Japan's Shinzo Abe

Japan's factory activity contracted at the slowest pace in six months in August, reducing some of the heat on policymakers pressured to take more radical steps to prevent the economy from sliding deeper into recession.

Japan's August factory activity shrinks at slowest pace in 6 months

Two crew members from a tugboat involved in cleaning up an oil spill off Mauritius were killed late on Monday when their vessel collided with a barge in bad weather, a local lawmaker said.

Four other members of the crew were rescued by helicopter and two were still missing, Mahend Gungerpersad, a member of parliament for the opposition Labour Party, told Reuters on Tuesday.

"This incident is going to add to the prevailing anger," he said, referring to weekend protests over the handling of the operation to contain the oil spill and the deaths of dozens of dolphins in the area.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/at-least-40-dolphins-die-in-area-hit-by-mauritius-oil-spill-323756" hreflang="en">At least 40 dolphins die in area hit by Mauritius oil spill</a>

"We had the oil spill, then we had the deaths of the dolphins and now two people who have been killed."

The MV Wakashio, a Japanese bulk carrier, struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation's coast in July, spilling thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the sea and choking marine life in a pristine lagoon.

According to Gungerpersad, the tugboat and barge sent out a distress signal at between 7.30 and 8.00 p.m. on Monday. The tugboat capsized after the collision. Both ships were moving parts salvaged from the site of the oil spill into the port.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/japanese-ship-deviated-from-shipping-lane-before-mauritius-impact-says-report-322156" hreflang="en">Japanese ship deviated from shipping lane before Mauritius impact, says report</a>

Mauritians have been angered by what Gungerpersad called "mismanagement" and "incompetence" by the government in its handling of the crisis.

Apart from dolphin deaths, the spill has threatened decades of work to conserve local sea birds and plant species in a nearby protected reserve.

Two crew members from a tugboat involved in cleaning up an oil spill off Mauritius were killed late on Monday when their vessel collided with a barge in bad weather, a local lawmaker said.

Two crew members from a tugboat involved in cleaning up an oil spill off Mauritius were killed late on Monday when their vessel collided with a barge in bad weather, a local lawmaker said. Four other members of the crew were rescued by helicopter and two were still missing, Mahend Gungerpersad, a member of parliament for the opposition Labour Party, told Reuters on Tuesday. "This incident is going to add to the prevailing anger," he said, referring to weekend protests over the handling of the operation to contain the oil spill and the deaths of dozens of dolphins in the area. Also read: At least 40 dolphins die in area hit by Mauritius oil spill "We had the oil spill, then we had the deaths of the dolphins and now two people who have been killed." The MV Wakashio, a Japanese bulk carrier, struck a coral reef off the Indian Ocean island nation's coast in July, spilling thousands of tonnes of crude oil into the sea and choking marine life in a pristine lagoon. According to Gungerpersad, the tugboat and barge sent out a distress signal at between 7.30 and 8.00 p.m. on Monday. The tugboat capsized after the collision. Both ships were moving parts salvaged from the site of the oil spill into the port. Also read: Japanese ship deviated from shipping lane before Mauritius impact, says report Mauritians have been angered by what Gungerpersad called "mismanagement" and "incompetence" by the government in its handling of the crisis. Apart from dolphin deaths, the spill has threatened decades of work to conserve local sea birds and plant species in a nearby protected reserve.

Two Mauritians killed in accident near site of Japanese ship oil spill

Former Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the most popular choice among the public to be the next prime minister, media opinion polls showed, as the race kicks off to succeed Shinzo Abe after his abrupt resignation last week.

Ishiba has about 34% of the public`s support, more than double the 14% for Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the second-most popular choice, a weekend Kyodo News survey showed.

A Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll showed Ishiba with 28% support, followed by current Defence Minister Taro Kono with 15%. Suga came in fourth place with 11%, the poll showed.

The surveys highlight a split between public opinion and internal Liberal Democratic Party politics.

Suga - a longtime lieutenant of Abe`s in a key supporting role - is expected to get the backing of the faction led by LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai and of other major factions, local media reported, putting him in a favourable position.

That would make it an uphill battle for Ishiba, a vocal Abe critic who unsuccessfully challenged the out-going premier in the last LDP leadership race in 2018 and is considered less popular within the party.

Another potential candidate, LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida, came in last place in both of the public opinion surveys.

Abe`s resignation announcement on Friday, citing the worsening of a chronic illness, set the stage for the party leadership election, which public broadcaster NHK said was likely to place around Sept. 13 to 15.

The LDP president is virtually assured of being prime minister because of the party`s majority in the lower house of parliament.

Brad Glosserman, deputy director of the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University, said Suga was the safe bet in terms of internal LDP dynamics, but might not be ideal come election time. A general election must be held by late October 2021.

"He doesn`t seem to have either the charisma or the vision to push Japan in a new direction. He seems to be the eternal Number Two - he delivers on promises made by his boss," said Glosserman.

Former Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the most popular choice among the public to be the next prime minister, media opinion polls showed, as the race kicks off to succeed Shinzo Abe after his abrupt resignation last week.

Former Japanese Defence Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the most popular choice among the public to be the next prime minister, media opinion polls showed, as the race kicks off to succeed Shinzo Abe after his abrupt resignation last week. Ishiba has about 34% of the public`s support, more than double the 14% for Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the second-most popular choice, a weekend Kyodo News survey showed. A Nikkei/TV Tokyo poll showed Ishiba with 28% support, followed by current Defence Minister Taro Kono with 15%. Suga came in fourth place with 11%, the poll showed. The surveys highlight a split between public opinion and internal Liberal Democratic Party politics. Suga - a longtime lieutenant of Abe`s in a key supporting role - is expected to get the backing of the faction led by LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai and of other major factions, local media reported, putting him in a favourable position. That would make it an uphill battle for Ishiba, a vocal Abe critic who unsuccessfully challenged the out-going premier in the last LDP leadership race in 2018 and is considered less popular within the party. Another potential candidate, LDP policy chief Fumio Kishida, came in last place in both of the public opinion surveys. Abe`s resignation announcement on Friday, citing the worsening of a chronic illness, set the stage for the party leadership election, which public broadcaster NHK said was likely to place around Sept. 13 to 15. The LDP president is virtually assured of being prime minister because of the party`s majority in the lower house of parliament. Brad Glosserman, deputy director of the Center for Rule-Making Strategies at Tama University, said Suga was the safe bet in terms of internal LDP dynamics, but might not be ideal come election time. A general election must be held by late October 2021. "He doesn`t seem to have either the charisma or the vision to push Japan in a new direction. He seems to be the eternal Number Two - he delivers on promises made by his boss," said Glosserman.

Ex-defence minister Ishiba is people's choice for next Japan PM, says polls

Shinzo Abe has announced that he will resign as Prime Minister of Japan due to ill health. Who will be Abe's successor? Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you a report.

Gravitas | Shinzo Abe Resigns: Who will succeed him?

A Japanese company has finally built a car that managed to take off with a human sitting inside.Japan's SkyDrive Inc. has carried out a successful though modest test flight with a person sitting in the cabin of the car.

Japan flying car successfully carries out test flight, plans to launch flying taxis

It is not common to see world leaders step down from their post due to health issues. Most of times, the leaders try to hide it for as long as they can. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has broken the unsaid rule and stepped down because of his ill health.&nbsp;

A Prime Minister or a President's health is almost a state secret and any leak spells incompetence, the end of a career, and loss of trust.

Also see|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/possible-successors-stack-up-as-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-resigns-323622" hreflang="en">Possible successors stack up as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns</a>

In a movie&nbsp;based on Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, it was shown that a sick leader is seen as an unfit leader, and a&nbsp;person troubled by health problems loses his or her ability to make the best decisions.

However, world leaders cling to their post even in ill health and&nbsp;choose to prioritise power over people.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-leaders-who-refused-to-step-down-despite-ill-health-323796/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In 2016, the Chief Minister of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu died in office. Jayalalithaa was hospitalised for over two months. Though she handed over her duties to a party leader, there was no talk of officially handing over the baton. She remained the southern&nbsp;state's Chief Minister till her death.

The same year, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir died in office. His illness too was a prolonged one. He was in the ICU&nbsp;for two weeks but he held on to power till his last breath.

A lot of questions were raised about the health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was serving as India's 10th Prime Minister. Reports said there were two senior doctors at his door step each morning. The media repeatedly asked whether India's Prime Minister was unwell but&nbsp;there were questions about who would replace Vajpayee.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-abe-resigns-how-the-world-is-reacting-to-the-news-323702">Also read|&nbsp;Japan PM Abe resigns: How the world is reacting to the news</a>

This is not just an Indian problem; leaders across the world have hidden their illness from the public due to the fear of being branded 'unfit'.

American President, John F Kennedy had addison's disease. It was concealed from the public and the President took his drugs secretly. Americans were also not told about Woodrow Wilson's stroke in 1919.

In 1893, Grover Cleveland needed a surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his mouth and believe it or not, he did it on a friend's yacht, secretly.

French President François Mitterrand died of prostate cancer in 1996. This was a year after the end of his two terms. His doctors concealed his health condition from the french public.

Even our neighbour, Pakistan, has had similar examples. Mohammad Ali Jinnah had tuberculosis and the people of Pakistan had no clue about it. Seventy two years after his death, there is still no clarity about his health condition. Infact, Pakistan's current Prime Minister Imran Khan recently thought Jinnah had cancer, and well, he was trolled for it.

Leaders hold the lives of people in their hands, and the decisions they make have far-reaching effects. The question that these examples raise is that can leaders make the best decisions for their country and citizens when&nbsp;struggling with ill-health?

The answer can be simply given by one example: Jayalalithaa lead 77 million people and was loved by the locals of the southern state. She handled a state budget worth $27 billion. While the state loved her,&nbsp;did she do justice to her people by clinging on to power even when she was bed ridden?

This is a question for all leaders who put power over people. However,&nbsp;Shinzo Abe is a welcome exception.

It is not common to see world leaders step down from their post due to health issues. Most of times, the leaders try to hide it for as long as they can. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has broken the unsaid rule and stepped down because of his ill health.

It is not common to see world leaders step down from their post due to health issues. Most of times, the leaders try to hide it for as long as they can. However, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has broken the unsaid rule and stepped down because of his ill health. A Prime Minister or a President's health is almost a state secret and any leak spells incompetence, the end of a career, and loss of trust. Also see| Possible successors stack up as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns In a movie based on Former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, it was shown that a sick leader is seen as an unfit leader, and a person troubled by health problems loses his or her ability to make the best decisions. However, world leaders cling to their post even in ill health and choose to prioritise power over people. In 2016, the Chief Minister of the Indian State of Tamil Nadu died in office. Jayalalithaa was hospitalised for over two months. Though she handed over her duties to a party leader, there was no talk of officially handing over the baton. She remained the southern state's Chief Minister till her death. The same year, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir died in office. His illness too was a prolonged one. He was in the ICU for two weeks but he held on to power till his last breath. A lot of questions were raised about the health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee when he was serving as India's 10th Prime Minister. Reports said there were two senior doctors at his door step each morning. The media repeatedly asked whether India's Prime Minister was unwell but there were questions about who would replace Vajpayee. Also read| Japan PM Abe resigns: How the world is reacting to the news This is not just an Indian problem; leaders across the world have hidden their illness from the public due to the fear of being branded 'unfit'. American President, John F Kennedy had addison's disease. It was concealed from the public and the President took his drugs secretly. Americans were also not told about Woodrow Wilson's stroke in 1919. In 1893, Grover Cleveland needed a surgery to remove a cancerous tumor in his mouth and believe it or not, he did it on a friend's yacht, secretly. French President François Mitterrand died of prostate cancer in 1996. This was a year after the end of his two terms. His doctors concealed his health condition from the french public. Even our neighbour, Pakistan, has had similar examples. Mohammad Ali Jinnah had tuberculosis and the people of Pakistan had no clue about it. Seventy two years after his death, there is still no clarity about his health condition. Infact, Pakistan's current Prime Minister Imran Khan recently thought Jinnah had cancer, and well, he was trolled for it. Leaders hold the lives of people in their hands, and the decisions they make have far-reaching effects. The question that these examples raise is that can leaders make the best decisions for their country and citizens when struggling with ill-health? The answer can be simply given by one example: Jayalalithaa lead 77 million people and was loved by the locals of the southern state. She handled a state budget worth $27 billion. While the state loved her, did she do justice to her people by clinging on to power even when she was bed ridden? This is a question for all leaders who put power over people. However, Shinzo Abe is a welcome exception.

Health or power: What the world leaders can learn from Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Japan's ailing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has resigned. Speculation about Abe’s health and tenure had risen after he made two visits to a hospital recently.

WION Dispatch: Shinzo Abe resigns as Japanese PM over health concerns

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s signature shock-and-awe `Abenomics` stimulus strategy was already faltering even before his decision on Friday to step down due to health reasons.

That blunt assessment by many Japan observers underlined the daunting political challenge Abe has faced in his efforts to pull the economy out of decades of economic stagnation.

And the coronavirus crisis may have just put the final nail in the coffin to his `three arrows` reform programme as the economy sinks deeper into recession, analysts say.

After sweeping to power in late 2012, Abe deployed his three arrows of Abenomics - large-scale monetary easing, fiscal spending and structural reforms - to reignite the world`s third biggest economy after years of subpar growth and falling prices.

There were some quick-hit successes.

The Bank of Japan`s "bazooka" stimulus programme lifted business sentiment and helped weaken the yen, giving exporters windfall profits that trickled down to wages and new jobs.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-resigns-over-health-concerns-323582">Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns over health concerns</a>

Corporate governance reforms drew in huge amounts of overseas money, pushing up foreign ownership of Japan`s listed stocks to a record 31.7% in 2014 from 28% in 2012. It stood at 29.6% in 2019.

"We were able to end 20 years of deflation with the three arrows of Abenomics," the prime minister told a news conference on Friday announcing his resignation, when asked what he thought were his legacies.

But Abe will leave behind a pile of unfinished business for his successor.

"The focus at the moment will be on the coronavirus recovery and controlling the infection, regardless of who will be the next prime minister," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute.

"There has been talk that Abenomics has been having a harmful impact, so I think the focal point will be on suggestions how to make changes to it."

The biggest disappointment for the prime minister, and many Japan observers, is that the third-arrow reforms to reshape an economy hobbled by low productivity, a rapidly ageing population and a rigid labour market, have proved elusive.

"Abenomics has singularly failed to deliver Japan the domestic conditions that would spark higher growth beyond more reliance on external demand," said Brian Kelly, Managing Partner at Asian Century Quest.

PAYING THE PRICE

Now, Japan is paying the price as COVID-19 wipes out the short-term benefits brought by Abenomics, such as an inbound tourism boom, reflated growth and rising job availability.

Abe`s failure to entice companies to spend more on capital expenditure has given Japan Inc a huge cash-pile that served as a liquidity buffer to weather the pandemic`s shock.

But the experience may give firms an excuse to keep hoarding cash rather than spend on new business opportunities, which could stifle innovation and weigh on Japan`s potential growth - factors Abe was focussed on addressing through the third arrow.

"COVID-19 may have reassured corporate executives that cash is indeed king," said Hideo Hayakawa, a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research. "My fear is that companies may feel even more inclined to save rather than spend."

Social distancing policies and other business constrains to contain the virus may cripple potential growth - already low due to slow progress in deregulating highly-protected medical and agriculture industries, and accepting more foreign workers to address chronic labour shortages.

Japan`s potential growth rate, which used to exceed 4% in the 1980s, slid near zero last year from around 1% before Abenomics began, according to BOJ estimates.

"Structural reform, or the third arrow, has been the declaring failure of Abenomics," said Samuel Tombs, chief U.K. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

"Even the government`s signature immigration reform last year was much ado about nothing, in practice."

DEFLATIONARY MINDSET

COVID-19 also dashed a grand experiment of Abenomics that aimed to turn around Japan`s "deflationary mindset," in which companies and households hold off on spending on expectations that low growth and wages will persist.

The economy stumbled to a record contraction in the second quarter that shrank nominal gross domestic product (GDP) to 507 trillion yen ($4.8 trillion), around levels marked in 2013 and far distant from Abe`s 600-trillion-yen target.

"Japan`s economy may have performed better after Abenomics, but not enough to change public sentiment dramatically," said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute.

"With the pandemic, we`ll likely see growth fall further. With many legacies of Abenomics wiped out, we know now there was no magic wand to fix Japan`s chronic woes," he said.

Moreover, with the BOJ having exhausted its tool-kit to achieve its elusive 2% inflation target, policymakers face the challenge of seeking to revive the economy with a dearth of ammunition.

Japan`s huge debt also limits room for big fiscal spending, which may keep any economic recovery weak, analysts say.

"Japan failed to normalise monetary and fiscal policies when the economy was in better shape," said former BOJ board member Takahide Kiuchi. "Now, it`s paying the price." ($1 = 106.6900 yen) 
&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s signature shock-and-awe `Abenomics` stimulus strategy was already faltering even before his decision on Friday to step down due to health reasons.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe`s signature shock-and-awe `Abenomics` stimulus strategy was already faltering even before his decision on Friday to step down due to health reasons. That blunt assessment by many Japan observers underlined the daunting political challenge Abe has faced in his efforts to pull the economy out of decades of economic stagnation. And the coronavirus crisis may have just put the final nail in the coffin to his `three arrows` reform programme as the economy sinks deeper into recession, analysts say. After sweeping to power in late 2012, Abe deployed his three arrows of Abenomics - large-scale monetary easing, fiscal spending and structural reforms - to reignite the world`s third biggest economy after years of subpar growth and falling prices. There were some quick-hit successes. The Bank of Japan`s "bazooka" stimulus programme lifted business sentiment and helped weaken the yen, giving exporters windfall profits that trickled down to wages and new jobs. Also Read: Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe resigns over health concerns Corporate governance reforms drew in huge amounts of overseas money, pushing up foreign ownership of Japan`s listed stocks to a record 31.7% in 2014 from 28% in 2012. It stood at 29.6% in 2019. "We were able to end 20 years of deflation with the three arrows of Abenomics," the prime minister told a news conference on Friday announcing his resignation, when asked what he thought were his legacies. But Abe will leave behind a pile of unfinished business for his successor. "The focus at the moment will be on the coronavirus recovery and controlling the infection, regardless of who will be the next prime minister," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute. "There has been talk that Abenomics has been having a harmful impact, so I think the focal point will be on suggestions how to make changes to it." The biggest disappointment for the prime minister, and many Japan observers, is that the third-arrow reforms to reshape an economy hobbled by low productivity, a rapidly ageing population and a rigid labour market, have proved elusive. "Abenomics has singularly failed to deliver Japan the domestic conditions that would spark higher growth beyond more reliance on external demand," said Brian Kelly, Managing Partner at Asian Century Quest. PAYING THE PRICE Now, Japan is paying the price as COVID-19 wipes out the short-term benefits brought by Abenomics, such as an inbound tourism boom, reflated growth and rising job availability. Abe`s failure to entice companies to spend more on capital expenditure has given Japan Inc a huge cash-pile that served as a liquidity buffer to weather the pandemic`s shock. But the experience may give firms an excuse to keep hoarding cash rather than spend on new business opportunities, which could stifle innovation and weigh on Japan`s potential growth - factors Abe was focussed on addressing through the third arrow. "COVID-19 may have reassured corporate executives that cash is indeed king," said Hideo Hayakawa, a senior fellow at the Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research. "My fear is that companies may feel even more inclined to save rather than spend." Social distancing policies and other business constrains to contain the virus may cripple potential growth - already low due to slow progress in deregulating highly-protected medical and agriculture industries, and accepting more foreign workers to address chronic labour shortages. Japan`s potential growth rate, which used to exceed 4% in the 1980s, slid near zero last year from around 1% before Abenomics began, according to BOJ estimates. "Structural reform, or the third arrow, has been the declaring failure of Abenomics," said Samuel Tombs, chief U.K. economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics. "Even the government`s signature immigration reform last year was much ado about nothing, in practice." DEFLATIONARY MINDSET COVID-19 also dashed a grand experiment of Abenomics that aimed to turn around Japan`s "deflationary mindset," in which companies and households hold off on spending on expectations that low growth and wages will persist. The economy stumbled to a record contraction in the second quarter that shrank nominal gross domestic product (GDP) to 507 trillion yen ($4.8 trillion), around levels marked in 2013 and far distant from Abe`s 600-trillion-yen target. "Japan`s economy may have performed better after Abenomics, but not enough to change public sentiment dramatically," said Yoshiki Shinke, chief economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. "With the pandemic, we`ll likely see growth fall further. With many legacies of Abenomics wiped out, we know now there was no magic wand to fix Japan`s chronic woes," he said. Moreover, with the BOJ having exhausted its tool-kit to achieve its elusive 2% inflation target, policymakers face the challenge of seeking to revive the economy with a dearth of ammunition. Japan`s huge debt also limits room for big fiscal spending, which may keep any economic recovery weak, analysts say. "Japan failed to normalise monetary and fiscal policies when the economy was in better shape," said former BOJ board member Takahide Kiuchi. "Now, it`s paying the price." ($1 = 106.6900 yen)

Abenomics fails to deliver as Japan braces for post-Abe era

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the country's longest-serving leader, announced at a press conference on Friday that he has decided to step down due to health reasons.

Japanese PM Abe announces resignation over worsening health

Japan's ailing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to resign. Speculation about Abe’s health and tenure had risen after he made two visits to a hospital recently.

Japan: Bowel illness force Longest serving PM Shinzo Abe to resign

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