Shinzo Abe: Japan's longest-serving prime minister

Shinzo Abe smashed records as Japan's longest-serving prime minister, championing ambitious economic reform and forging key diplomatic relationships while weathering scandals.

Nearly two years after poor health forced him to leave office, the 67-year-old was shot during a campaign event in the western region of Nara on Friday.

He was transported to a local hospital and died there almost five hours later, hospital officials said.

Abe was a sprightly 52 when he first became prime minister in 2006, the youngest person to occupy the job in the postwar era.

He was seen as a symbol of change and youth, but also brought the pedigree of a third-generation politician groomed from birth by an elite, conservative family.

Abe's first term was turbulent, plagued by scandals and discord, and capped by an abrupt resignation.

After initially suggesting he was stepping down for political reasons, he acknowledged he was suffering an ailment later diagnosed as ulcerative colitis.

- They called it 'Abenomics' -

The debilitating bowel condition necessitated months of treatment but was, Abe said, eventually overcome with the help of new medication.

He ran again, and Japan's revolving prime ministerial door brought him back to office in 2012.

It ended a turbulent period in which prime ministers sometimes changed at a rate of one a year.

With Japan still staggering from the effects of the 2011 tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster at Fukushima -- and a brief opposition government lashed for flip-flopping and incompetence -- Abe offered a seemingly safe pair of hands.

And he had a plan: Abenomics.

The scheme to revive Japan's economy -- the world's third-biggest, but more than two decades into stagnation -- involved vast government spending, massive monetary easing and cutting red tape.

Abe also sought to boost the country's flagging birth rate by making workplaces more friendly to parents, particularly mothers.

He pushed through controversial consumption tax hikes to help finance nurseries and plug gaps in Japan's overstretched social security system.

While there was some progress with reform, the economy's bigger structural problems remained.

Deflation proved stubborn and the economy was in recession even before the coronavirus struck in 2020.

Abe's star waned further during the pandemic, with his approach criticised as confused and slow, driving his approval ratings down to some of the lowest of his tenure.

- Political storms -

On the international stage, Abe took a hard line on North Korea, but sought a peacemaker role between the United States and Iran.

He prioritised a close personal relationship with Donald Trump in a bid to protect Japan's key alliance from the then-US president's "America First" mantra, and tried to mend ties with Russia and China.

But the results were mixed: Trump remained eager to force Japan to pay more for US troops stationed in the country, a deal with Russia on disputed northern islands stayed elusive, and a plan to invite Xi Jinping for a state visit fell by the wayside.

Abe also pursued a hard line with South Korea over unresolved wartime disputes and continued to float plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution.

Throughout his tenure, he weathered political storms including cronyism allegations that dented approval ratings but did little to affect his power, in part thanks to the weakness of the opposition.

Abe had been due to stay on until late 2021, giving him an opportunity to see out one final event in his historic tenure -- the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games.

But in a shock announcement, he stepped down in August 2020, with a recurrence of ulcerative colitis ending his second term, too.

World reacts to Abe shooting
Tokyo (AFP) July 8, 2022 - Leaders and envoys from around the world reacted with shock and concern to the shooting of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

Here are some key comments:

- United States -

"This is a very, very sad moment," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters at the G20 meeting in Bali, saying the United States was "deeply saddened and deeply concerned".

"We don't know his condition," he said. "Our thoughts, our prayers are with him, with his family, with the people of Japan."

Earlier, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said he was "saddened and shocked".

"Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and unwavering ally of the United States," he said in a statement.

- European Union, NATO -

European Council president Charles Michel said he was "shocked and saddened by (the) cowardly attack".

Abe was "a true friend, fierce defender of multilateral order & democratic values", Michel tweeted.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he was "deeply shocked".

"My thoughts are with him and his family," he tweeted. "#NATO stands with the people of our close partner #Japan."

- China -

The Chinese foreign ministry said it was "shocked" by the shooting.

"(We) hope former PM Abe will be out of danger and recover soon," spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

- Britain -

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "appalled" by the shooting.

"Utterly appalled and saddened to hear about the despicable attack on Shinzo Abe," he tweeted.

- Australia -

"Shocking news from Japan that former PM Shinzo Abe has been shot," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted.

"Our thoughts are with his family and the people of Japan at this time."

- India -

"Deeply distressed by the attack on my dear friend Abe Shinzo," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with him, his family, and the people of Japan."

- Russia -

"We pray for the health of the former prime minister of Japan, Mr Shinzo Abe," the Russian embassy in Japan said in a Facebook post.

"We strongly condemn the barbaric attempt on his life."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Bali that he had "offered condolences" to his Japanese counterpart.

- France -

The French embassy in Japan expressed concern over the "hateful" attack, saying its thoughts were with Abe and his loved ones.

"The French Embassy has learned with emotion and dismay of the hateful attack on former prime minister Shinzo Abe in Nara," the mission said on Twitter.

- Singapore -

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described Abe as "a good friend of Singapore".

"I am deeply shocked to learn that former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was shot in Nara Prefecture this morning. This is a senseless act of violence," he said in a Facebook post.

- Thailand -

Thailand's "Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is very shocked by what has happened to former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe," Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai told reporters in Bangkok.

"Prayut and Abe are friends and they have a relatively close relationship as they met several times."

- Malaysia -

Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said he was "saddened and shocked".

"The Government and people of Malaysia are praying for his speedy recovery", he tweeted.

- The Philippines -

Enrique Manalo, the foreign affairs secretary of the Philippines, expressed "great shock and dismay" at the attack.

"I extend my deep sympathy and pray for his early recovery," he tweeted.

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