Junichiro Koizumi retired as Japan's prime minister September 2006. Now Shinzo Abe successor will have to live up to the expectations Koizumi created. He is Japan's first prime minister to be born after World War II. This article discusses the similarities and the change of the direction between Koizumi and Abe. Abe is part of the younger generation that wants to continue enhancing the prime minister's power, but his conciliatory style may prove an obstacle.