As widely expected, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida zeroed in on the economy and his government¡¯s resolve to ¡°seize the flow of change¡± in a policy address to the plenary session of parliament Monday.

¡°¡®The economy, the economy, the economy.¡¯ I will focus my attention on the economy more than anything else,¡± Kishida said in opening remarks that recalled ¡°It¡¯s the economy, stupid,¡± the 1992 catchphrase of James Carville, a top former adviser to U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Kishida said that a proposed economic stimulus package currently in the works will consist of two main pillars ¡ª returning the fruits of growth to citizens and strengthening supply capabilities.