Buffett buys Japan – The ultimate endorsement of Abe’s legacy

(Sep 2020) Peter considers Shinzo Abe's legacy in the wake of Warren Buffett's decision to invest in Japan's trading companies.

Two significant pieces of news have emerged from Japan since the stock markets closed last Friday.

Firstly, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he would shortly be standing down on account of long-
term health issues. Then, Berkshire Hathaway announced that it had acquired stakes worth USD 6bn in

Japan’s five largest trading companies. In this note, Peter Tasker reflects on the implications of these
two events and why Warren Buffett buying into Japanese companies is the ultimate endorsement of Abe’s legacy.