Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is portrayed as having two faces: a steadfast conservative on diplomacy and security, and an economic globalist who pushed deregulation, work-style reforms, and foreign worker intake, guided by advisers such as Heizo Takenaka. His globalization push drew praise from international media and business circles, but also empowered pro-China factions at home and deepened splits within the conservative camp. While many voters credited Abenomics with jobs and rising hiring, the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak highlighted governance gaps, notably Abe's premature welcoming message for Chinese tourists, which complicated the crisis response. In his second term, globalization and pro-China influence persisted, and his reluctance to pursue constitutional revision left his legacy a contested topic after his resignation.