Shinzo Abe 安倍 晋三 1954-2022 || RIP

July 11, 2022

On behalf of the TNWAC Chairman, Jim Shepherd, the Members of the Board and Advisory Board and the members of the Tennessee World Affairs Council I would like to express condolences to the people and government of Japan and their Nashville representative, the Consul-General of Japan on the passing of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe was killed in a shocking, heinous attack on July 8, 2022 by a gunman in Nara, Japan.

Shinzo Abe served as Prime Minister of Japan 2006-2007 and 2012-2020, the longest service by a prime minister in the country’s history. He left his mark as a champion of a “proactive” Japan in Asia standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States and allies in the face of North Korea’s provocations and China’s rise and in ensuring global stability. Prime Minister Abe led at home, working to boost Japan’s economic fortunes through a revitalization program that carried his name — “Abenomics.” 

The world and the United Stats will miss the leadership and friendship of Shinzo Abe, which was emblematic of the close government, business and people-to-people ties between our countries.

We share our deepest sympathies with our friends in Japan on their loss.

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