JAPAN: Waver Week

Japan's little Premier, Nobuyuki Abe, is a definition of inconsistency. His breakfast begins by being Japanese (bean soup, pickled eggplant, rice) and ends Occidentally (soft-boiled eggs, a glass of milk). His house (suburban, neither big nor small) is typically that of a Japanese military man, but is cluttered by a very unmilitary hobby—scores of canaries and red sparrows in pretty cages. Premier Abe drinks a little but not much, smokes a little but not much, exercises a little but not much. He is a general, but he has never been to war.

Month ago Japan's senior statesmen drew this indecisive character—"blinking,"...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!