Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated on Friday in the city of Nara, Japan. Mr. Abe was 67. Abe was shot while delivering a campaign speech in Nara, and died of his wounds later the same day after reportedly suffering a cardiopulmonary arrest. The police arrested the alleged shooter, 41-year-old Yamagami Tetsuya.
Shinzo Abe, born into a prominent political family, was first elected to the House of Representatives in the 1993 election. He was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in September 2005 and went on to serve 4 terms as Prime Minister between 2006 to 2020.
Mr. Abe’s aspirations to strengthen Japan’s military and his denials of atrocities committed by the military during WWII made him a divisive figure in Japanese politics, causing friction both within the country and with his Asian neighbors. His right-wing ultra-nationalism angered the Koreas and China, and his wish to expand the military angered many Japanese. Relations between Japan and South Korea under Mr. Abe deteriorated to one of the lowest points in recent years. Abe failed to achieve his aspiration of formally rewriting the U.S.-drafted pacifist constitution because of poor public support and he declared that to be one of his deepest regrets.
Abe became Japan’s youngest prime minister in 2006, at age 52, however, his controversial political stances ended that term merely a year later.
When he returned to office in 2012, Abe promised to revitalize the nation’s economy and he became known for his “Abenomics” formula, which combines fiscal stimulus, monetary easing and structural reforms.
During his terms he enjoyed close relations first to US President Barack Obama, and later with President Donald Trump. He especially became known as “Trump’s loyal sidekick”.
It is not yet known what was the motive for the shooting.
