Kishida Fumio

Statement on the Passing of ABE Shinzō

delivered 8 July 2022

Today, as the result of a sudden, outrageous act, former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo has passed away.

The despicable act that took the life of Mr. ABE Shinzo, carried out in the middle of an election, the very basis of democracy, is absolutely intolerable, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.

Possessing outstanding leadership and execution ability, Mr. ABE Shinzo, at the risk of his own life, took on the weighty responsibility of being prime minister for the sake of Japan, which faces a severe state of affairs both domestically and internationally. He did so over a total of eight years and eight months, the longest period in our constitutional history.

He worked to the very best of his ability to accelerate reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, applying his strong determination that "all Cabinet members are ministers for reconstruction" and "without the reconstruction of Tohoku, there will be no revival of Japan."

In extricating our nation from the long-term deflation that Japan had suffered under, he promoted economic policies comprising his "three arrows" of bold monetary easing, flexible fiscal policy, and a growth strategy that encourages private sector investment, making major contributions to the revitalization of the Japanese economy.

In his diplomatic and security policies amid an increasingly severe international situation, while positioning the solid Japan-U.S. Alliance as the cornerstone, he pursued diplomacy that took a panoramic perspective of the world map and he also worked tirelessly to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. He moreover made every effort to prepare the legal structure for the Legislation for Peace and Security, building the foundation to foster the peace and prosperity of both Japan and the world.

He captured the major trends of the era, with work style reform, a social security system oriented to all generations, and a society in which all citizens are dynamically engaged, and, always examining the era one step into the future, across a broad spectrum of fields he left major achievements intended to carve out the future of this nation.

Upon hearing the sudden news of his death, I cannot hold back my grief.

Here, together with the Japanese people, I extend my heartfelt sympathies and pray that he rest in peace.

本日、突然の蛮行により、元内閣総理大臣安倍晋三（しんぞう）氏が、逝去されました。

　民主主義の根幹たる選挙が行われている中、安倍晋三氏の命を奪った卑劣な行為は、断じて許されるものではなく、最も強い言葉で非難します。

　安倍晋三氏は、憲政史上最長となる８年８か月にわたり、卓越したリーダーシップと実行力をもって、厳しい内外情勢に直面する我が国のために、身命を賭して、内閣総理大臣の重責を担われました。

　東日本大震災からの復興。「閣僚全員が復興大臣である」、「東北の復興なくして、日本の再生なし」との決意の下、その加速化に力を尽くされました。

　我が国が長年苦しんできたデフレからの脱却。大胆な金融緩和、機動的な財政政策、民間投資を喚起する成長戦略の「三本の矢」からなる経済政策を推進し、日本経済の再生に大きく貢献されました。

　国際情勢が厳しさを増す中での外交・安全保障政策。強固な日米同盟を基軸として「地球儀を俯瞰（ふかん）する外交」を展開し、「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」の実現に向け精力的に取り組まれるとともに、平和安全法制の整備に尽力され、我が国と世界の平和と繁栄に向けた礎を築かれました。

　「働き方改革」、「全世代型社会保障」、「一億総活躍社会」など、時代の大きな流れを捉え、常に時代の一歩先を見渡し、この国の未来を切り拓（ひら）くための大きな実績を様々な分野で残されました。

　突然の訃報に接し、悲しみの念を禁じ得ません。
　ここに、国民の皆様とともに、心から哀悼の意を表し、ご冥福をお祈り申し上げます

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/_00003.html

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/discourse/20220708message.html

Page Updated: 7/12/22

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