Media inquiries: Veronique Rodman
202.862.4871, vrodman@aei.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, September 12, 2007

Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe resigned Wednesday after a year of scandal and missteps. The abrupt announcement, coming just days after Abe pledged to fight to renew a law allowing Japan to participate in the War on Terror, leaves the government in disarray and the future of U.S.-Japanese relations unclear. This is a turning point for Japan, as opposition leaders will try not only to take power from the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, but also restrict cooperation with the United States on anti-terror activities. Is Japan heading into a perfect storm that will reduce its global influence? Or is the democratic process in Japan merely responding to the voters' desire for radical change?

Michael Auslin, an AEI resident scholar specializing in Japan, is available to comment on these and other questions.

Please contact Auslin directly at michael.auslin@aei.org, or through his assistant at 202.862.7160 (Jennifer.Gregg@aei.org). For all other media inquiries please e-mail or call Veronique Rodman at vrodman@aei.org or 202.862.4871.

###