A memorial altar set up after the death of former Prime Minister Abe in 2022 [UPI=Yonhap News file photo]

On the 8th, marking the fourth anniversary of the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was killed in a shooting incident, Japanese political figures and supporters held various memorial services.

Former Prime Minister Abe was shot and killed by a homemade firearm on July 8, 2022, while delivering a stump speech ahead of the House of Councillors (upper house) election in Nara City, Nara Prefecture.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who considers former Prime Minister Abe her "political mentor," posted a memorial message on X (formerly Twitter) stating that the date of his passing is "a day I can never forget for the rest of my life, and it breaks my heart just to think about it."

Prime Minister Takaichi stated, "It has been about eight months since I took office, and every single day, whether I am traveling abroad or meeting with world leaders visiting Japan, I realize the immense magnitude of the achievements Prime Minister Abe left behind for Japan and its people."

"I worked alongside Prime Minister Abe in politics for many years," she added. "I felt a great attraction to him not only because we shared a common view of the nation and because of his charisma as a politician, but also because of his personal character as a human being."

Former Prime Minister Abe (front center) and Prime Minister Takaichi (front right) in 2014 [AP=Yonhap News file photo]

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, the spokesperson for the Japanese government, also affirmed that the Takaichi administration is building upon the political, diplomatic, and economic legacy of former Prime Minister Abe.

When asked about this at a press conference that day, Secretary Kihara emphasized, "Former Prime Minister Abe championed the 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' (FOIP). The Takaichi administration is upholding the core principles of FOIP while evolving that vision in light of structural changes in the international order, such as intensifying geopolitical competition, accelerating technological innovation, and our equitable relationships with the Global South."

He further evaluated "Abenomics," the former prime minister's large-scale monetary easing policy, by noting that it "created a non-deflationary environment," which "increased GDP, expanded employment, and boosted corporate profits."

He added, "Based on a responsible and proactive fiscal policy, the Takaichi administration has decided to break away from the long-standing trend of excessive austerity and insufficient investment in the future. We are committed to sustaining Japan's growth by developing and providing products, services, and infrastructure that contribute to solving global challenges through crisis management and growth-oriented investments."

Meanwhile, Japanese media outlets including NHK reported that many citizens visited a memorial altar installed near the site where the former prime minister was killed four years ago.

A retrospective exhibition for former Prime Minister Abe is being held from the 4th to the 12th at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in Koto, Tokyo, displaying items such as the shoes he was wearing when he was shot, his parliamentary badge, and the microphone he was holding.

On the 5th, a memorial service was held in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which was the former prime minister's constituency, attended by 700 people, including local politicians, members of the National Diet, and supporters.

Akie Abe, the former prime minister's widow, said at the service, "Please do not forget Abe, and I hope you will continue to talk about him."

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported that an English version of the former prime minister's memoir is also being published to mark the fourth anniversary.

The Japanese edition of the memoir was published in February 2023 and includes accounts of his interactions with foreign leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The individual who assassinated the former prime minister four years ago, Tetsuya Yamagami, claimed he committed the crime because his mother had been impoverished by large donations to the Federation of Families for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church), and he suspected ties between the church and Liberal Democratic Party politicians, including Abe.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment in his first trial in January and has since appealed the ruling.