Opening Statement
to the Press Announcing the Death of ABE Shinzō
delivered 8 July
2022
Q: [About PM's thoughts regarding
Mr. Abe's passing and the government's response going forward]
PM Kishida:
Yes, sir. As Nara Medical University Hospital
announced a little earlier, at 5:03 PM today, former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo passed away. I prayed that somehow his life would be spared. It
is truly unfortunate that these prayers were in vain and we were met
instead with this news. I am at a loss for words. I offer my most
heartfelt prayers that he rest in peace.
A despicable outrageous act took the life of former Prime Minister Abe,
and it was carried out in the midst of an election, the very basis of
democracy. This is absolutely intolerable, and I condemn it once again
in the strongest possible terms.
Mr. Abe took on the weighty responsibility of being prime minister over
a total of eight years and eight months, the longest period in our
constitutional history. Through his outstanding leadership and execution
ability, he led Japan as it faced a severe state of affairs both
domestically and internationally.
My estimation of him is that he worked hard to foster peace and
stability for both Japan and the world, building the foundation for
that. He did this through his economic policies comprising his "three
arrows" that aimed to extract our nation from the long-term deflation
that Japan had suffered under, through his efforts to realize a Free and
Open Indo-Pacific at a time of extremely challenging international
affairs, and through his preparing the Legislation for Peace and
Security, among other achievements.
For me personally, former Prime Minister Abe was first elected to the
Diet the same year I was, and after becoming legislators we were
colleagues, and moreover good friends who spent a lot of time together
when I was a minister supporting the Abe Cabinet. It is extremely
unfortunate that in this way we have lost a great politician who loved
this country and was always examining the era one step into the future,
and who in various areas left major achievements intended to carve out
the future of this nation. I express my respect for the numerous great
achievements that Mr. Abe has left, and I extend my heartfelt sympathies
on his passing.
Free and fair elections are the foundation of democracy, and I believe
that we must absolutely protect this. I believe that we must never give
in to violence. For this reason, I will do my utmost in this election
campaign until the very end. I hope that you, the people of Japan, will
think carefully about what should be done to protect our country's
democracy, and I hope that we will work together to protect it.
And, as for our future responses, tomorrow is the last day of the
House
of Councillors election campaign. I believe that free and fair
elections, which are the basis of democracy, must be fully defended no
matter what. Under our resolute determination never to yield to
violence, we will proceed with our election activities tomorrow as
originally scheduled. I want us to continue to appeal directly to the
public about these matters in our own voices right up until the last
second of the election campaign. As we undertake our campaign
activities, we will respond by taking great care with regard to
security.
In light of today's situation, I convened the Cabinet members a little
while ago, and the Government has now confirmed, and also now holds in
common, the same recognition of today's events and our responses. At
that time, I instructed the Cabinet on two points: first, that we must
thoroughly ensure that free and fair elections are held safely, and the
other is that we respond dispassionately so that the situation does not
lead to sluggishness in the administration of the government and that we
do everything possible at our ministries and agencies to respond to the
matter.
Q: [About how should the government
mourn the loss of the deceased]
PM Kishida:
Yes, sir. The reality is that we have not yet had time to think about
the future, as you have asked. Naturally, he was a former Prime Minister
who made great achievements, so the government and the party should pay
their respects to him and think about how to respond to his passing.
Q: [Regarding PM Kishida's message
to the public in the run-up to the election in the wake of this
incident].
PM Kishida:
Yes, sir, I believe that we must protect free and fair elections, which
are the foundation of democracy. I believe that we must never give in to
violence. For this reason, I will do my utmost in this election campaign
until the very end. I hope that you, the people of Japan, will think
carefully about what should be done to protect our country's democracy,
and I hope that we will work together to protect it.
Q: [About what former Prime Minister Abe meant to the Kishida
administration].
PM Kishida:
Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, as the former Prime Minister of Japan,
he made great achievements. And I believe that the current
administration is also at the end of the stream of such great
achievements. Therefore, he gave me a lot of valuable advice when I was
thinking about the future, both in domestic policy and diplomacy. That
advice was from former Prime Minister Abe. He gave me various valuable
advices, encouraged me at times, and gave me various opinions at other
times. I would like to thank you again for your warm and valuable
support. I would like to continue to fulfill my responsibility for Japan
by taking on board the thoughts of former Prime Minister Abe and
carrying them forward. I believe that this is the way to follow the
wishes of former Prime Minister Abe.
[Press conference
continues for a few more minutes but English translation ends at this
point]
Original English Language Text Source: Official Website of the
Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet at: https://japan.kantei.go.jp/101_kishida/statement/202207/_00004.html.
Text following the initial opening statement translated via
DeepL
from the Japanese transcript provided above.
Original Japanese Language Text Source: Official Website of the Prime Minister of
Japan and His Cabinet at: https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/101_kishida/statement/2022/0708kaiken2.html
Original Video Source: Official Website of the Prime Minister of
Japan and His Cabinet at: https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/101_kishida/statement/2022/0708kaiken2.html.
Frame enhanced to 60fps.
Original Audio Source: Official Website of the Prime Minister of
Japan and His Cabinet at: https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/101_kishida/statement/2022/0708kaiken2.html.
Ripped from video and digitally enhanced for clarity and force.
Page Updated: 8/4/22
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Video = Used in
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Q: [About PM's thoughts regarding
Mr. Abe's passing and the government's response going forward]