美国国家公共电台 NPR--What Shinzo Abe's assassination means for Japan's political landscape

What Shinzo Abe's assassination¹ means for Japan's political landscape

Transcript²

Leila Fadel speaks with James D.J. Brown, associate professor of political science at Temple University's Japan Campus, about the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

LEILA FADEL, HOST:

We're going to turn now to James D.J. Brown He's an associate professor of political science at Temple University's Japan campus. Professor Brown, thanks for being on the program.

JAMES DJ BROWN: Thank you very much.

FADEL: Now, Abe, as we heard, was killed giving a speech campaigning on behalf of his party. He's the longest serving prime minister, a huge political figure in Japan. What does his assassination mean for the Japanese government and the country's political landscape?

BROWN: I think there are a very large number of implications. One of them is just perhaps the way that campaigning will be done in the future within Japan.

FADEL: Yeah.

BROWN: It's charmingly old-fashioned the way that politics works before elections in Japan. You have the candidates who just go out and do stump³ speeches on street corners, in front of stations. They're standing⁴ there with no real visible security, and they shake hands with ordinary voters, give speeches. I think all of that's going to change now - that there will be a sense that it is simply too dangerous, perhaps, to continue in that same way.

FADEL: I mean, that's probably why somebody was able to get so close to him, 'cause people aren't afraid of this type of violence in Japan. Abe's life taken suddenly today at 67 years old. What do you think his legacy⁵ will be?

BROWN: There are quite a few things. There are two you can look at - economics, foreign policy. But to hit on perhaps the biggest one, I think it's the visibility of Japan. I remember Japan in around sort of 2010 or so. Really, Japan was being overlooked a lot. Despite remaining such a big economy, it just didn't feature in the international news that much. There was perhaps the attitude that Japan's best days were behind it. And Abe, despite, you know, his many critics - he certainly put Japan back on the map. He was very explicit⁶ in saying that he was determined⁷ that Japan would never be seen as a second-rank country. And he really wanted to restore it to a place of prominence⁸ within international politics. Simply by remaining prime minister for so many years, he took some big steps towards that.

FADEL: Now, he wanted a more militarized Japan. He wanted to change the constitution. And did Abe succeed in achieving his political goals in the time that he served?

BROWN: In his resignation speech in 2020, when he had to step down due to ill health, he was quite explicit in saying that he hadn't achieved everything that he wanted. He wanted to resolve the territorial⁹ dispute with Russia, to resolve a hostage issue which has been lingering with North Korea and to revise the constitution. None of that he actually managed. But overall, he still had some really major achievements. Whilst he didn't revise the constitution, he reinterpreted it to allow Japan to do more to assist its allies in military operations. He also resurrected the Trans-Pacific Partnership¹⁰. Many people felt that that trade agreement was over after the U.S. withdrew, but he ensured that it came to fruition. And he's played a major role in promoting this idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific to encourage democracies to stand up to China.

FADEL: Professor James D.J. Brown of Temple University's Japan campus, thank you so much for your time.

BROWN: Thank you.

1 assassination   

n.暗杀；暗杀事件

参考例句：

• The assassination of the president brought matters to a head.总统遭暗杀使事态到了严重关头。
• Lincoln's assassination in 1865 shocked the whole nation.1865年，林肯遇刺事件震惊全美国。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 stump   

n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走

参考例句：

• He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
• He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。

4 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

5 legacy   

n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
• He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。

6 explicit   

adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的

参考例句：

• She was quite explicit about why she left.她对自己离去的原因直言不讳。
• He avoids the explicit answer to us.他避免给我们明确的回答。

7 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

8 prominence   

n.突出；显著；杰出；重要

参考例句：

• He came to prominence during the World Cup in Italy.他在意大利的世界杯赛中声名鹊起。
• This young fashion designer is rising to prominence.这位年轻的时装设计师的声望越来越高。

9 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

10 partnership   

n.合作关系，伙伴关系

参考例句：

• The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
• Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。