Abenomics fails to deliver as Japan braces for post-Abe era

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows his head as he says he is stepping down. Picture: Kyodo/via Reuters. 

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's signature shock-and-awe 'Abenomics' stimulus strategy was already faltering even before his decision yesterday to step down due to health reasons.

That blunt assessment by many Japan observers underlined the daunting political challenge Abe has faced in his efforts to pull the economy out of decades of economic stagnation.