Economist magazine praises Koizumi

LONDON — The forthcoming leadership election of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party on Sept 20 has sparked interest on an international level, not least because it will mark the beginning of the end of Junichiro Koizumi's reign as a 'remarkable' prime minister, according to the British weekly magazine the Economist.

The magazine, in its latest issue published Friday, says that while the premier may be stepping down from his office, his legacy as a reformer of policy and his country will reverberate around both Japan and the world long after his successor has filled his considerable shoes. 'During his tenure Japan's governing apparatus has been transformed, its economy has emerged from long years of degenerative decline, and its dealings with the world have been energized and emboldened. For all that, Junichiro Koizumi remains an enigma,' the magazine says."