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On May 4, political analyst Tobias Harris examined the unraveling of Japan’s “Abe consensus” and its implications for the country’s democratic future during the 19th Griffith and Patricia Way Lecture.
In his talk, “Japan’s Democracy in an Age of Uncertainty,” Harris dissected the “Abe consensus” — the political framework that governed Japan for more than a decade under former Prime Minister Shinzō Abe. This consensus rested on Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) governing majorities, economic growth initiatives, expanded military capabilities, and strengthened international partnerships under U.S. leadership. Today, that foundation has grown increasingly unstable. The LDP now faces declining public trust, strained coalition ties with Komeito, and the loss of its once-dominant parliamentary position.
Tobias Harris shares insights during the 19th Way Lecture. Photo by Madison Morgan
Harris drew on two decades of experience analyzing Japanese politics and Asian geopolitics to explore how this political order came apart and what its unraveling means for Japan’s democratic future. He currently serves as founder and principal of Japan Foresight LLC and senior adviser for Japan at Aurora Macro Strategies. His commentary has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times, and he is also the author of “The Iconoclast: Shinzō Abe and the New Japan,” a biographical examination of the former prime minister whose political legacy continues to shape contemporary Japanese governance.
“Tobias Harris brings both deep analytical rigor and a genuine gift for making Japanese politics accessible and compelling,” Jackson School Professor Robert Pekkanen, who delivered the opening remarks and introduced Harris, said. “We expect this to be a conversation that resonates well beyond the lecture hall.”
Jackson School Professor Robert Pekkanen gives opening remarks at the May 4 Way Lecture. Photo by Madison Morgan
Attendees gathered for a reception following the program, continuing conversations sparked by Harris’s analysis.
The Way Lecture series, established in 2006, honors Griffith and Patricia Way, integral figures in the Japan Studies community. Griffith Way helped establish the University of Washington’s Asian Law Program (now known as the Asian Law Center) and provided support to the Center for Japanese Studies on numerous occasions. His service extended across the Jackson School Advisory Board, the Journal of Japanese Studies, the Seattle Art Museum, and the Blakemore Foundation, which awards grants for intensive Asian language training.
“Griff and Pat were great pillars and supporters of the Japan Studies community … the lecture series, supported by friends and the Way family, is one way we keep their legacy alive,” Marie Anchordoguy, professor emerita in the Jackson School, said.
Professor Robert Pekkanen, Tobias Harris, Professor Saadia Pekkanen, Consul General Iyori, Clark Sorenson, Professor Emeritus, and Professor Mark Metzler. Photo by Madison Morgan