What unfolds for Japan in the year ahead now that Yoshihide Suga is officially Prime Minister?

When as if 2020 couldn’t be more surreal & unpredictable, what with COVID-19, economies tanking, loss of Kobe Bryant+daughter & Chadwick Boseman, Harry & Megan Markle renouncing royalty, ongoing China vs USA vs Hong Kong vs India vs everything else, bush fires Down Under, wildfires in California turning the skies orange, blacklivesmatter, Mulan bleh(LOL), LV launching a $1300 monogram face shield (bleh again) and locally, Elections & the groundbreaking acquittal of Parti Liyani(yup…used the word ‘groundbreaking’ for those who know what I mean)…& of course, the recent and sudden resignation of Shinzo Abe. Through the cards in a 2020 forecast I did last year in Nov 2019, it was definitely shown to me that 2020 was going to be ‘Expect the unexpected’ kind of year ahead, but not to the extend as to how I would ever would imagined or predicted it would eventually manifest. Ever curious, with Abe’s resignation, here’s a read of what lies ahead for the guy slated, so far, to take over as Prime Minister of Japan.

CURRENT OUTLOOK (THE DEVIL)

The new Prime Minister ascends this position in a really really really difficult and negative time. The Devil portrays looming and unpredictable negative forces at work at the moment, and the negative forces will constraint Suga and hold him back from being the best version of himself. While celebrated and gratified in taking on this post, it will have a very high chance that this will be at the expense of his long term well-being. Japan as whole, at current, still faces what the rest of World is facing, dealing with COVID, its sinking economy, rapid aging & its related social issues. In short, tough job ahead Mr. Suga.

CURRENT SITUATION (NINE OF SWORDS)

You view the visual depicted in the Nine of Swords and honestly, I need not say much more. The degree of their anxiety, stress, worry, fear, depression hits ‘maturity’, and describes Japan’s current issues as being very real and present, and the vibe of the country as a whole reflects the sentiment. Suga and his government faces immense challenges at hand, which also brings me to the bigger & potential conspiracy-laden question of “Why did Shinzo Abe really quit suddenly? Was it genuinely due to his health or does he know something that’s not revealed, too immense to solve in his capacity?”

CHALLENGES (THE HIEROPHANT)

What Suga faces is something that the history of Japan had been dealing with for a long time. Traditionally, if you’re a history buff, Japan still embraces rigid structures, traditions and traditional dogma surrounding its homogeneity, people, society, work etc. Don’t get me wrong, Japan is one of my favourite destinations to visit for its culture, heritage, food and craftsmanship, however, little do we see from the eyes of a tourist, that this very dogmatic approach to things may no longer work or be working to their advantage in the changing World. With the Hierophant, Suga and its government faces a tough time challenging the status quo, and what Abe and his famed ‘Abe-nomics’ set out to accomplish. It will have an ongoing and uphill tasks of convincing alternative ways of viewing the world and get buy-in from its people to experiment & test the very ideas and concepts that they know will need to take place to transform and adapt. The Hierophant encourages to examine ‘the way we do things around here’ and ask yourself whether it aligns with your values and the ‘New Norms’. With it, there may be run-in’s with internal authorities or conflict with traditional dogmatic views and ways.

WHAT UNFOLDS (SIX OF PENTACLES)

The Six of Pentacles offers 2 scenarios. One…we should expect to read or see Suga and its government offer financial assistance to those in need. It may mean giving more generously through charitable donations, or strengthening their overall social and public assistance. Note that this is in the short-term and it does seem to sustain over the longer term. Japan may also be inclined to make a loan to someone on the premise that they will eventually pay you back once they are back on their feet. It is a loan built on trust and good faith, however this exchange is more about a short-term fix and not a sustainable solution. This latter scenario could also be vice-versa as in Japan gaining short term loans or investments being injected into its economy. Perhaps something to do with buffering the costs of the postponed Olympics?

OUTCOMES (ACE OF CUPS)

The Ace of Cups often represents a new relationship, be it a friendship, a new internal connection or blossoming ‘romance’, indicative of support of Suga Yoshihide as PM. At this point in time, the vibration and mode It is exciting, the water in the card reflects the flow of emotion, and thus, the Ace of Cups suggests that the enthusiasm the country as whole generates that will get Suga fired up about his new role. Within, there is a generous, compassionate side to the Ace of Cups, too. Perhaps an indication of Suga & team making the most of any opportunity to help its people and others. We’ll just have to wait and see how this pans out…頑張ってください !