Japanese leaders marked the one-year anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging to tackle pressing political goals as a way of honoring Abe’s wishes.
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated on July 8, 2022, while giving a campaign speech in Nara, near Osaka. He was shot twice from behind by a man with a homemade firearm. The gunman, Tetsuya Yamagami, has been arrested and charged with murder.
At a closed memorial service at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo, Kishida and other senior officials and lawmakers joined Abe’s widow, Akie, in paying tribute to the former leader. Tables were set up at the temple for flower laying by the public later Saturday.
In a speech at the service, Kishida said that Abe’s death was a “grave incident that shook the very foundation of Japan.” He pledged to continue Abe’s work to strengthen Japan’s economy and security.
“We will never give in to violence,” Kishida said. “We will defend our democracy with all our might.”
Abe was a controversial figure in Japan, but he was also widely respected for his long career in politics and his commitment to his country. His death was a shock to many Japanese, and it has led to soul-searching about the country’s political culture and security.
In the wake of Abe’s assassination, the Japanese government has taken steps to improve security for politicians and public figures. It has also increased funding for research into gun violence prevention.
However, it remains to be seen whether these measures will be enough to prevent future tragedies. The assassination of Shinzo Abe was a reminder that even in a country like Japan, where gun violence is rare, political violence can still happen.
