TOKYO, Jul 8, Xenia Naka. V On the anniversary of the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, queues of those who came to pay tribute to him lined up at the Jojoji Temple in Tokyo, the correspondent reports.
Exactly one year ago, Abe was mortally wounded during an election rally in front of dozens of people and died a few hours later. The death of a politician in a country that until now considered itself one of the safest and was considered as such in the world, shocked both supporters and critics of the politician. Over the year, the shock has lost its sharpness, but the changes in Japan and the world are forcing people to remember Shinzo Abe again and re-evaluate his role as prime minister.
As on the day of the funeral, already on the platform of the Shiba-koen station, people in mourning and with flowers made up the majority. There is no need to look for the right way out in the direction of Jojoji Temple, where in the first half of the day a memorial ceremony was held according to the Buddhist rite for family, friends and associates, and in the afternoon altars were set up so that everyone could bring flowers and honor the memory of the former prime minister. minister. To get to the temple, just go people with bouquets in their hands.
Before entering the temple, you must go through two cordons of inspection: things and personal. This is due to the fact that all the major politicians of the country took part in the recent commemoration ceremony. The flow of people was not as dense as a year ago, but it did not stop for a minute. Not far from the altars, there are stands with the most striking moments of Shinzo Abe's political life: the beginning of his deputy activity, the formation of the cabinet in December 2012, Abe in the costume of the electronic game character Mario after Tokyo's victory in the selection for the 2020 Olympics.
People come up to the altars, on which the same photo of Abe smiling nonchalantly, put flowers, freeze in bow and pass on. What made them come here? What was Abe for Japan? What has changed in Japan since Abe's death?
Shinzo Abe is Japan's most pro-Russian prime minister
Shinzo Abe has served as the longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan in the country's recent history: on August 24, 2020, his term in office exceeded 2799 days. » />
Shinzo Abe has served as the longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan in the country's recent history: on August 24, 2020, his term in office exceeded 2799 days.
1 of 12
< br>
Coming from a family of high-ranking politicians, Abe has always been ambitious and wanted to leave his mark on history. Abe, who came from a family of high-ranking politicians, was always ambitious and wanted to leave his mark on history.
2 of 12
The politician sought to improve relations with Russia and repeatedly expressed his intention to conclude peace treaty before the end of his term.
The politician sought to improve relations with Russia and more than once expressed his intention to conclude a peace treaty before the end of his term.
3 of 12
Unfortunately, despite numerous contacts at the highest level with Vladimir Putin failed to resolve the issue of the Kuril Islands.
Unfortunately, despite numerous contacts on summit with Vladimir Putin, it was not possible to resolve the issue of the Kuril Islands.
4 of 12
Japanese remember the former premier for «Abenomics», which was designed to revive the stagnating economy of a deflationary country.
The former prime minister was remembered by the Japanese as «Abenomics», which was designed to revive the stagnating economy of a deflation-prone country.
5 of 12
In addition, Shinzo Abe has strengthened the defensive role and potential of Japan.
In addition, Shinzo Abe strengthened Japan's defensive role and potential.
6 of 12
As prime minister, he agreed with the United States to increase pressure on North Korea, which refused to stop its nuclear program.
As prime minister, he agreed with the United States to increase pressure on North Korea, which refused to stop its nuclear program.
7 of 12
Abe considered the Vatican a partner in the issue of renunciation of nuclear weapons.
Abe considered the Vatican a partner in the issue of renunciation of nuclear weapons.
8 of 12
Despite the difficult relationship between Tokyo and Beijing, Shinzo Abe sought dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Despite the difficult relations between Tokyo and Beijing, Shinzo Abe sought to dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
9 of 12
The politician paid close attention to the Middle East and offered to help Saudi Arabia create an economy less dependent on oil.
The politician paid close attention to the Middle East and offered to help Saudi Arabia to create an economy less dependent on oil.
10 of 12
In August 2020, Shinzo Abe announced to the ruling coalition his decision to resign due to deteriorating health.
In August 2020, Shinzo Abe announced to the ruling coalition his decision to resign due to deteriorating health.
11 of 12
July 8, 2022 Abe was shot twice in the back while giving a speech in the city of Nara. The wound turned out to be fatal.
On July 8, 2022, while Abe was giving a speech in Nara City, he was shot twice in the back by an attacker. The wound turned out to be fatal.
12 of 12
Shinzo Abe served as the longest-serving Prime Minister of Japan in the country's recent history: on August 24, 2020, his term in office exceeded 2799 days.
1 of 12
Abe, who came from a family of high-ranking politicians, was always ambitious and wanted to leave his mark on history.
2 of 12
The politician sought to improve relations with Russia and repeatedly expressed his intention to conclude a peace treaty before the end of his powers.
3 of 12
Unfortunately, despite numerous top-level contacts with Vladimir Putin, it was not possible to resolve the issue of the Kuril Islands.
4 of 12
The former prime minister was remembered by the Japanese for his «Abenomics», which was designed to revive the stagnating economy of a deflationary country.
5 of 12
In addition, Shinzo Abe has strengthened the defensive role and potential of Japan.
6 of 12
As prime minister, he agreed with the United States to increase pressure on North Korea, which refused to stop its nuclear program.
7 of 12
Abe considered the Vatican a partner in the issue of renunciation of nuclear weapons.
8 of 12
Despite the difficult relationship between Tokyo and Beijing, Shinzo Abe sought dialogue with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
9 of 12
The politician paid close attention to the Middle East and offered to help Saudi Arabia create an economy less dependent on oil.
10 of 12
In August 2020, Shinzo Abe announced to the ruling coalition that he had decided to resign from -for deteriorating health.
11 of 12
On July 8, 2022, when Abe was making a speech in the city of Nara, he was shot twice in the back by an attacker. The wound turned out to be fatal.
12 out of 12
“It’s hard for me to formulate, quite recently I had a feeling that Japan was being taken away from us. That’s why I’m here. I need to figure this out, I need to read books on history, because so far I can’t say anything more,” a woman of about 50 told the correspondent
«Abe is a wonderful person. A prime minister that Japan should be proud of. He was the best prime minister in the entire post-war history of Japan. A year has passed since his death, and it began to seem that Japan began to gradually collapse. We, those who remained, we have to hold on tight. That's why I came here,» said an elderly man in his 70s, who seemed to struggle to keep his voice trembling from tears.
«In my youth, my father worked for Shinzo Abe's father in the political office. When I became a deputy, Shinzo Abe was already prime minister and we did not meet. And after he left the post, in March last year, I invited him to us and I thought that now it would be possible to turn to him for advice and help. The elections were not easy for us. And in the midst of the election campaign he was gone. He is an example of a politician for me, he stood at the entrance to my political life, «said Shizuoka Prefectural Legislative Assemblyman Yoshie Sugimoto.
«He died at the time when he was most needed. There are no words … It's a pity. If Abe were alive, then perhaps the world around was brighter than now. What did I mean by saying that he went to important time? Diplomatic relations around the world have become tough and rough, relations between countries have become more complicated. Abe was able to see foreign policy from above, to see the world as a globe. I think that if he were alive, the world would be going in a slightly different direction now» , said a young man in his 30s.
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was mortally wounded while speaking at a campaign rally in Nara Prefecture on July 8, 2022. His killer, 42-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, shot Abe twice from behind with a makeshift weapon. At the second shot, the politician was wounded in the neck and chest, which became fatal. As the doctors said, the wound on the chest was so deep that it reached the heart. Abe died of blood loss a few hours later. The funeral and cremation took place on July 12, and Abe's state funeral took place on September 27, which caused controversy in society due to the fact that the decision on this was made at a government meeting without the participation of parliament. Nevertheless, 26,000 people came to say goodbye to the former prime minister at the altars erected on the day of the funeral next to the Nuppon Budokan martial arts hall.