Japanese Premier's Resignation

On Wednesday, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, resigned from his position. Abe was very unpopular in political circles and with the media. A tense new parliamentary session began Monday with members deadlocked over Japanese military participation in Afghanistan and the premier's exit.

Abe's successor will automatically become the next prime minister. The opposing Democratic Party will likely call for a general election soon. They Democratic Party is against a law that allows the Japanese navy to refuel American ships and our allies' ships that are participating in the war in Afghanistan.

The majority of the Japanese public is against their involvement in Afghanistan. They say that their support of the American navy violates Japan's pacifist constitution. This is a striking example of the war on terror influencing domestic politics within our allies' borders.