Reuters - Video

Edition: US | UK | IN | CN | JP

video Video

Bernanke steps into the spotlight
Bernanke steps into the spotlight - 02:13
The official royal wedding guest list revealed
The official royal wedding guest list revealed - 01:23
Shuttle astronauts arrive at Cape Canaveral
Shuttle astronauts arrive at Cape Canaveral - 01:18
Waiting for Bernanke
Waiting for Bernanke - 01:51
Hospital staff flee border fighting
Hospital staff flee border fighting - 01:10
Thousands at Sai Baba funeral
Thousands at Sai Baba funeral - 01:03
Al Qaeda releases hostage messages
Al Qaeda releases hostage messages - 01:43
Obama calls birth controversy \
Obama calls birth controversy "distracting" - 05:29
Three blasts hit Kirkuk
Three blasts hit Kirkuk - 01:25
Protests intensify in Yemen
Protests intensify in Yemen - 01:24
Border clashes displace thousands
Border clashes displace thousands - 01:50
S&P Credit Rating Warning Helpful - Lister
S&P Credit Rating Warning Helpful - Lister - 00:53

Five things you need to know about Japan's new leader.

Monday, December 17, 2012 - 01:52

Dec 17 - Japan's general election is over - with main opposition leader Shinzo Abe winning back the country's top job. And these are the traits and policies that are likely to define his term. Jon Gordon reports.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

The election is over and Japan has elected its new prime minister. The winner? Shinzo Abe. So who exactly is this man charged with reviving the world's third-largest economy? Here are 5 things you need to know about Japan's new number 1: First, Abe is a comeback kid. He was originally elected to the top office back in 2006, but bailed out just one year in over health issues. Since then, the country's shuffled through leaders at a near annual rate culminating with Abe's return. Number two, he's a hawk. Abe wants Japan to move on from its post-World-War-II pacifism. He's a visitor to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine, and has plans to boost defense spending. Number three, the Abe of today is no Beijing appeaser. After making overtures to China in his first stint as PM, he's now taking a harder stance. The biggest potential flashpoint - these tiny Japanese-administered islands in the East China Sea. Both countries claim them, and Abe has pledged to defend them. Number four, he is Japan's answer to the Kennedys. Or the Bushs I guess, in the dynastic political family sense. Abe's father served as a foreign minister. His grandfather, an ex-prime minister too. And number five, Abe's war on deflation. Years of falling wages, lower prices, and weak demand have all stunted Japan's economic growth. Abe wants to shake up the central bank with unlimited stimulus and a two-percent inflation target. This could be his defining policy, but also potentially his most difficult to achieve.

Press CTRL+C (Windows), CMD+C (Mac), or long-press the URL below on your mobile device to copy the code

Close

Five things you need to know about Japan's new leader.

Monday, December 17, 2012 - 01:52

Featured Videos

Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel

Luxury liner Queen Elizabeth II reopens as floating hotel

One of the world's most famous ships is now a floating hotel permanently moored at Dubai's Mina Rashid port
World Toad in the Hole Championships

World Toad in the Hole Championships

The aim of the traditional pub game originating from France is to land as many large brass coins or 'toads' in a table's small hole
Tarantula burgers on the menu

Tarantula burgers on the menu

For adventurous diners, tarantula topped burgers are available at a Durham, North Carolina restaurant as part of its ‘exotic meat’ month
Runners brave the cold for North Pole Marathon

Runners brave the cold for North Pole Marathon

Runners brave freezing conditions at top of the world in North Pole Marathon
UK firm turns discarded gum into shoes, coffee cups and combs

UK firm turns discarded gum into shoes, coffee cups and combs

Chewing gum is a blight on city streets and takes a heavy toll on the environment, say its critics. But one woman in Britain is performing modern-day alchemy on it