To be sure, nominal wages are climbing, but inflation has eroded real incomes. September data showed that nominal wages climbed 1.9% year on year, while real wages declined 1.4%. This comes as Takaichi has pledged to revive the spirit of “Abenomics,” a policy championed by the late Shinzo Abe, built on three pillars: ultra-easy monetary policy, aggressive fiscal stimulus, and structural reforms.