[Taliesin]

.. next primeminister!! Oh, may God help us all:

Japan's ruling party chooses Abe
Shinzo Abe during his final campaign in Tokyo
Shinzo Abe has been the front-runner from the beginning
Japan's ruling party has chosen top government spokesman Shinzo Abe as its next leader, and the country's most likely next prime minister.

Now we get to know a bit more about Abe:

Popular

Mr Abe is the son of a former foreign minister and grandson of a former prime minister. At 51, he is considered young to be a Japanese cabinet minister.

He won because he is so popular, not just in the party but in the country as a whole, the BBC's Chris Hogg in Tokyo says.

Many LDP lawmakers will be hoping that popularity will help them retain their seats when they seek re-election, our correspondent adds.

Mr Abe had the backing of the current prime minister, Mr Koizumi.

But questions remain about which way he might take the country.

According to our correspondent, some say he is a right winger, a hawk; others contend that he is a pragmatist, a realist, keen for Japan to be more assertive abroad but aware of the need to improve the country's poor relations with its neighbours.

Source: BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Japan's ruling party chooses Abe

From my experience with Abe's personalities, I would say a few are pretty hawkish and rightwing and others pragmatic, realistic, so it depends..

Taliesin

[Nicko]

Uh oh... I have visions of a re-militarized Japan invading China with giant robots controlled by Japanese school girls... horrifying visions indeed.

[ink]

Well, maybe Japan will bring their troops back to the War on Terror now.