Two numbers colored Shinzo Abe's 2013 and offer hints about Japan's prospects this year: 57 and 49.
The first is how much in percentage terms the Nikkei 225 Stock Average surged in 2013. The prime minister even dropped by the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Monday to celebrate, declaring: "Next year will go well. With this thought, I want to do my best. Next year too, Abenomics is a buy."
The second number — 49 — explains why he's probably wrong. It corresponds to Abe's public approval rating as of Dec. 24. History shows Japanese leaders with sub-50 percent support rates often get little done and tend not to last very long. And Abe's numbers could be even worse now. The Mainichi newspaper poll closed two days before he angered the world with a provocative visit to Yasukuni Shrine, an action most Japanese didn't support.
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