The book offers a study of a fascinating political personality, that of Japanese prime minister Abe Shinzô (2012-2020). Abe's political career was boosted by his predecessor Koizumi Jun.ichirô and he seemed extremely promising at 51 when he rose to become the youngest Cabinet Secretariat chief, however once in power in 2007 he disappointed by resigning after only one year. Yet, he rose again in 2012 to become the longest-serving prime minister of Japan's history since the end of the Meiji Era (1868-1912), when Japan went through a radical process of modernisation and westernisation, becoming a major military and imperialist power in the process.

The book seeks to answer three questions. How could Abe Shinzô remain in power for nearly a decade in a country where prime ministers usually have much shorter terms, in some cases of only one year? He remained in power in spite of the fact that he sought to conduct massive reforms. What was the policy mix devised to keep voters happy, while promoting structural reforms and growth? He was in power for almost ten years. What is his legacy: what remains of his tenure as chief executive?

James D.J. Brown is associate professor of Political Science at Temple University, Japan Campus.

Guibourg Delamotte is Senior Lecturer of Political science at the Japanese studies department of the French Institute of Oriental Studies (Inalco).

Robert Dujarric is co-director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University, Japan Campus.

Introduction: Eight Years in Power: Assessing Prime Minister Abes Legacy by James Brown, Guibourg Delamotte, and Robert Dujarric

Chapter 1: Transformation of Domestic Politics: Abes Durable Legacy? By Nonaka Naoto

Chapter 2: Abe Shinz's Economic Legacy by R. Taggart Murphy

Chapter 3: Pandemic Downsizes Prime Minister Abe Shinz by Jeff Kingston

Chapter 4: Gender Policies and Conservative Values by Murakami Hiromi

Chapter 5: Prime Minister Abes Security Policy: a Broader Spectrum by Guibourg Delamotte

Chapter 6: Japanese Military Diplomacy: Abes Security Legacy? By Alessio Patalano

Chapter 7: Japan-US Relations by Minohara Toshihiro

Chapter 8: Japans Diplomacy toward China under the Abe Shinz Administration by Soeya Yoshihide

Chapter 9: Recriminations& Deepened Distrust: Assessing PM Abes Legacy of Mismanaging Japan-ROK Relations by Laney Bahan and David Satter White

Chapter 10: Abe Shinz and the Securitization of Japan-North Korea Relations by Benoît Hardy-Chartrand

Chapter 11: Testing a Theory to Destruction: Abes Legacy and Relations with Russia by James Brown

Chapter 12: Japans Foreign Policy towards the Middle East and Africa under Abe by Kakizaki Masaki

Chapter 13: Japans Global Image by Nancy Snow

Chapter 14: Japan and the World under Abe Shinz's Premiership: Trying to Become a Rules-Maker by Robert Dujarric