Hello podcast, I'm Connor and welcome to this bonus episode of the Intelligence

Square podcast. As the news came in yesterday on Friday, August 28th that Japan's

longest serving Premier, Prime Minister Shinsoabe, was stepping down due to health concerns.

We thought there was no better time to bring you a podcast on the life and legacy

of one of the country's most formative figures. In this episode we were joined by Tobias Harris,

author of the new book The Iconiclast,

Shinso Abbey and the New Japan, and he spoke to the BBC's Regina Vodyan

all about Abbe's tumultuous career from his ambitious economic program,

Abenomics, to his geopolitical relationships

with the likes of China and the United States,

to what the future holds for the country in the post-Abe era. So it's a really fascinating conversation and it was recorded

on Wednesday, August 26th, just two days before Abbe stepped down and we hope you enjoy it.

Hello, I'm Regina Fyin' Arthon, BBC Correspondent and it. a renowned researcher of Japanese politics and the author of a new book the iconoclast

it's a biography of Japanese Prime Minister Shinso Arbe the book looks at his mete

metei, his remarkable comeback,

and his unlikely emergence as a global statesman, laying the groundwork for Japan's survival in a turbulent century.

Well, a very warm welcome to you, Tobias.

Hi, Regina, happy to join you.

Well, first of all, it's quite a book about quite a politician,

the longest serving Prime Minister in Japan.

You're an expert in East Asian politics.

What drew you to write this book in the first place?

...