To fathom Abe, just look at his grandfather

Here's a quiz on Japanese politics: What are the policy priorities of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, seen as one of the most controversial leaders in decades due to his conservative and hawkish agenda?</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='250' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20061228f1a.jpg' WIDTH='250' HEIGHT='174'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B>In an undated photo released by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's office, Abe sits on the lap of his grandfather, Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, while his father, Shintaro –

, mother, Yoko (back row right), and older brother, Nobuhiro (left), pose for a family photo. Abe was in kindergarten at the time. AP PHOTO

Answers might include revising the war-renouncing Constitution; rethinking the government's ban on collective defense; reforming education by weeding out "problematic" teachers through evaluations; and trying to mend ties with Japan's Asian neighbors.