Japan commemorates one year since the death of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo shortly before his assassination. (Photo: asahi.com/TTXVN)

July 8 marks the one-year anniversary of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Memorial services are being held across the country.

A memorial service was held at Zojoji, a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, to honor Japan's longest-serving prime minister, who was shot dead at the age of 67 while giving a campaign speech. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the late Prime Minister's wife, and other government officials and lawmakers attended the ceremony.

At the site near where Mr Abe was shot dead in Nara, western Japan, dozens of people lined up in the morning to lay flowers in his memory.

The sudden passing of former Prime Minister Abe has shocked and saddened the world because this talented leader was the one who brought many changes to the "Land of the Rising Sun" and was the initiator of many regional security initiatives.

Former Prime Minister Abe was born on September 21, 1954 in Tokyo, into a family with a political tradition. After entering Japanese politics in 1993, he held many important positions in the government and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

In September 2006, he was elected LDP President and was elected by the National Diet as the 90th Prime Minister of Japan on September 26 of the same year. At that time, he was only 52 years old and the youngest Prime Minister of post-war Japan. However, in September 2007, he had to resign as Prime Minister due to health reasons.

In September 2012, Mr. Abe returned to the position of head of the LDP after the party's presidential election. Three months later, this politician led the LDP to an overwhelming victory in the Lower House election. On December 26, 2012, Mr. Abe was officially appointed Prime Minister after a vote in the National Assembly.

In August 2020, he resigned as prime minister again due to health reasons. The late Prime Minister Abe was the longest-serving prime minister in Japan, surpassing the record of Prime Minister Eisaku Sato.

After leaving office, Mr. Abe remained active in politics. On November 11, 2021, this politician became the leader of Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyukai - the largest faction in the LDP. However, on July 8, 2022, he passed away after being shot from behind by a subject while campaigning for an LDP candidate in the city of Nara, western Japan.

VNA