Shinzo Abe’s ratings are tumbling amid allegations of wrongdoing

AFTER winning election for Japan’s premiership four times in a row, Shinzo Abe has a reputation for arrogance. Before parliament broke up in June for the summer he jeered his opponents and called their questions “stupid”. At one point he told ministers to read newspaper articles on his policies instead of bothering him for an explanation. A noticeably humbler Mr Abe was grilled this week in both houses of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, over allegations—which he denies—that he abused his office to grant a favour to a chum. Amid the furore, his popularity has plummeted.