TOKYO (Washington Insider Magazine) – Shinzo Abe, former leader of Japan, passed away on Friday after getting shot at a campaign rally. This incident startled a nation where gun crime is almost nonexistent.
The 67-year-old Abe stayed active in politics even after he resigned as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and was campaigning for office ahead of Sunday’s polls. Around 11:30 a.m. local time, a shooting was reported in the western city of Nara, close to Kyoto. He had just started to speak.
According to officials, one suspect has been detained in connection with the incident.
According to NBC NEWS, Abe experienced cardiac and pulmonary arrest and was taken urgently to Nara Medical University Hospital. His death was reported by the hospital just after 5 a.m. ET.
Abe had 2 gunshot wounds and no vitals when he arrived at the hospital less than an hour after the incident, according to Dr. Hidetada Fukushima, a professor of emergency medicine. He said that despite efforts to save his life, such as blood transfusions, Abe passed away at 4:03 a.m. ET.
A clearly frightened Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated earlier in the day that although the incident was still under investigation, “it was a despicable and barbaric” act that took place in the middle of an election, which is the cornerstone of democracy.
Regarding how the incident will affect the elections for the upper chamber of Parliament, Kishida stated that no judgments had been taken. Abe, who retired in 2020, was not running for office himself but was instead supporting other Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidates.
Abe led the largest section in his party and controlled Japanese politics for the better part of a decade before stepping down. He has continued to be involved in politics since then.
Japan, where gun crime is very uncommon, was shocked by the tragedy. To get and maintain rifles and shotguns, one must pass stringent examinations, receive special training, and pass background checks. Handguns are illegal throughout the nation.
The Constitutional Democrats, the major opposition group in the nation and a center-left party, also denounced the shooting, with Kenta Izumi, the party’s chief, describing it as “an unforgivable act of barbarism.”
Leaders from all across the world expressed sentiments of sorrow and disbelief.
Rahm Emanuel, the American ambassador to Japan, expressed his shock and sadness at the shooting.
The shooting of Abe was met with shock from the White House as well.
Leaders in the Asia-Pacific region expressed similar levels of disbelief.
Abe was commended for raising Japan’s image on the global stage, but his party was mired in controversy, and he was criticized for handling the nation’s reaction to the Covid-19 outbreak poorly.
Abe, a member of the political elite in Japan, made restarting economic development through his “Abenomics” initiatives a key tenet of his administration.
When Abe announced his departure 2 years ago, his ulcerative colitis, a long-term intestinal condition, was becoming worse.
Days after setting a record for the longest tenure as prime minister of Japan (almost eight years), he announced his retirement. Previously, from 2006 to 2007, he was the prime minister.
