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Tag: Shinzo Abe

  • Prosecutors in Japan charge man for killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

    Prosecutors in Japan charge man for killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

    Local media outlets have reported that after it was determined that the man suspected of killing former prime minister Shinzo Abe was competent to stand trial, Japanese prosecutors filed an indictment against him.

    Tetsuya Yamagami, 42, was charged with murder and gun violations by the Public Prosecutors Office in Nara District after a psychiatric evaluation, according to reports in the Yomiuri newspaper and Kyodo News agency on Friday.

    If found guilty, Yamagami might receive the death penalty.

    The 42-year-old suspect had spent months undergoing a psychiatric evaluation, which ended earlier this week with his transfer to a police station in Nara city where Abe was fatally attacked in July 2022.

    Following the crime that shocked the world, Yamagami had been arrested on the spot on July 8 after he allegedly shot Abe with a handmade gun while the former premier was giving a speech at an election campaign in the western city.

    The suspect reportedly held a grudge against the Unification Church and he blamed Abe for promoting the religious organisation, which he said had impoverished his family, claiming the church had persuaded his mother to donate about 100 million yen ($776,000) to its cause.

    Abe was Japan’s prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. He stepped down from the position due to health issues, according to Kyodo News.

    The Unification Church was founded in South Korea in 1954 and is famous for its mass weddings, relying on its followers in Japan as a key source of income.

    The killing shed light on evidence to reveal deep and longstanding relations between the church and Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) legislators. The LDP has denied any organisational link to the church but has acknowledged that many legislators have ties to the religious group.

    The approval rate for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government had fallen to record lows amid revelations about connections between the church and many LDP legislators.

    Details also emerged about Yamagami’s childhood, including his mother’s alleged neglect of her children to carry out church activities, which built anger against the organisation and spurred sympathy for the murder suspect among some members of the Japanese public.

    Donations of cash, clothing, food and books flooded into the Osaka detention centre where he was held during his psychiatric evaluation. An estimated 15,000 people also signed a petition calling for prosecutors to go easy on Yamagami, according to local media.

    One of Yamagami’s lawyers, Masaaki Furukawa, told The Associated Press news agency on Thursday that his client was in good health during his psychiatric evaluation in Osaka when he was allowed to see only his sister and three lawyers.

    Furukawa said the trial would involve a jury panel of citizens. Due to the complexity of the case, it would take at least several months before the hearing begins, he said.

    Source: Aljazeera.com

  • Shinzo Abe: A divided Japan sends its dead former prime minister farewell

    Akie, the widow of Shinzo Abe, walked slowly while wearing a black kimono and carrying a silk-covered urn containing her husband’s ashes.

    She set it on a sizable shrine that was decorated with white chrysanthemums.

    Above it hung a huge photo of Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.

    Only once before in Japan’s post-war history has a politician been given a state funeral – and Tuesday’s event to honor Abe has stirred huge controversy.

    It drew thousands of guests – local and global leaders, notably from Japan’s closest allies. But it also faced a backlash as protesters marched against the decision to hold the funeral.

    It’s a day and an event that appears to have cut Japanese society down the middle. And it’s a sign of Abe’s complicated and often divisive legacy.

    The 67-year-old politician was assassinated in July – shot twice by a homemade gun. The killing shocked a country unused to gun crimes or political violence, triggering an outpouring of grief for a leader who had never been that popular.

    “Abe-San, thank you so much,” mourners shouted when they gathered to pay their respects in July – with his death, many of his countrymen realized he had given Japan a sense of stability and security.

    That mood changed with the announcement of a state funeral. But it has gone ahead despite growing opposition from the Japanese public with opinion polls showing around 60% opposed it.

    Outside the Budokan – the arena in Tokyo where the funeral was taking place – the queue of mourners carrying flowers stretched for well over 3km (1.8 miles). They wore black and carried flowers to pay their respects for one last time.

    “I love Abe and everything about him, that’s why I am in line,” one 19-year-old said. Another mourner, a woman, said she was there to “show my gratitude for his long service as PM”.

    But a short distance away in front of the Japanese parliament thousands more gathered to noisily and angrily demonstrate their opposition.

    Abe was widely admired abroad, but he was a divisive figure at home. Many of the protesters outside parliament were furious about the $10.7m (1.6bn yen; £10m) cost of the funeral. Others simply said Abe did not deserve the rare honour of a state funeral.

    “I am frustrated and angry that we let the government do whatever they want without consulting the people,” said 25-year-old Iori Fujiwara. “Us younger generation needs to speak out more for our own future, that’s why I am here.”

    “I could not stay at home while they are spending so much money and inviting so many guests while there are Japanese people suffering from the typhoon last week,” said 25-year-old Ayaka Uehira.

    Protesters hold placards reading 'No!! State funeral' during a rally against the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo, Japan, 27 September 2022.
    IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Noisy protesters were kept away from the arena where the funeral took place

    Many of those who oppose the funeral – and Abe’s political legacy – are older Japanese. In a country traumatized by war, the older generation has long favored a “pacifist” constitution that has kept Japan from heavily investing in its military.

    Abe, however, sought to change that – not by a referendum or parliamentary process, but by reinterpreting the constitution.

    This move was controversial and unpopular but has increasingly been welcomed by Abe’s supporters – many of whom are younger Japanese. Untroubled by memories of war, they are also increasingly reacting to China’s aggressive claims on Japanese territory.

    For them, Abe was an extraordinary politician who put Japan back on the international map as a significant player.

    Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Liberal Democratic Party certainly made the decision to honor Abe without considering how the country might react.

    But there is no denying the fact that Abe was also a man greatly admired by Japan’s allies.

    He pushed for stronger relations among what he called “like-minded democracies”, including India and Australia. He was also instrumental in the founding of the Quad – an alliance between the US, Japan, India, and Australia.

    So it’s no surprise that the US vice-president, and sitting and former Australian prime ministers traveled to Tokyo to pay their respects. Or that India’s PM Narendra Modi made the journey after skipping the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London last week.

    They perhaps recognize that in some ways, Abe was well ahead of his time.

    He had always been wary of a rising threat from China – a concern Japan’s allies now share.

  • State funeral for late former PM Shinzo Abe

    Japan bids farewell to late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today as its holds a state funeral for the former statesman.

    The surrounding streets of Budokan where the state funeral will take place have been closed since early this morning and there are many police officers around – some of whom came from other parts of Japan.

    More than 700 foreign guests have flown in for the event, including about 50 current or former state leaders.

    Dignitaries include US Vice President Kamala Harris, India’s PM Narendra Modi, Singapore’s PM Lee Hsien Loong, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Philippines Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, Indonesia Vice President Ma’ruf Amin, and European Council President Charles Michel.

    The military has performed the cannons fire 19-gun salute for slain ex-PM. A stream of people have come to pay their respects to Abe.

    Here are some pictures so far of the mourning crowds:

    A queue of mourners outside the funeral venue holding flowers and other tributes
    Copyright: EPA
    Image caption: People gathered early in the morning to leave flowers for Mr Abe
    People stand in front of a tribute site with Mr Abe's photo on it
    Copyright: EPA
    Image caption: People have to go through metal detectors and have their bags checked first to be able to access the areas.
    A woman dressed in black and wearing a veil prays at an altar for Mr Abe
    Copyright: EPA A woman dressed in black and wearing a veil prays at an altar for Abe

    Thousands are seated in the arena. A military band has begun playing a dirge as the senior Japanese dignitaries walked in.

    His widow Akie Abe arrived at the Budokan venue carrying his ashes, which were covered in a ceremonial cloth.

    The motorcade carrying his remains had travelled from his widow’s home in the capital.

    The widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe (C), carries his ashes as she arrives for the start of his state funeral at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.
    Copyright: Reuters
    Image caption: The widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe (C), carries his ashes
    State funeral for slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is held in Tokyo, Japan September 27, 2022.
    Copyright: Reuters
    Image caption: A military officer carries ashes of the former PM in a box covered with a decorative fabric to be placed at the altar
    Attendants arrive at the state funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, 27 September 2022.
    Copyright: Reuters

    Prime Minister Fumio Kishida received the ashes, which appear to be contained in a ceremonial box.

    He then formally handed it to military officers who placed the box in the centre of the altar, set up at the front of the room.

    The current prime minister, Fumio Kishida, delivered an eulogy to Abe. Kishida spoke of Abe’s significant and incomparable legacy.

    He said he rushed to Mr Abe’s side immediately after the shooting. “Why did your life have to be taken away in such a tragic way when you were so indispensable to us?”

    “Abe-san, your life should’ve been much, much longer. You were needed for much, much longer. You’ve worked tirelessly and exhausted all your energy for both Japan and the world,” he said.

    In what was at times a very personal tribute, Kishida also praised Abe’s temperament and generosity towards others. He then wrapped up a written prayer in a white paper envelope and placed that on the altar.

    Kishida
    Copyright: BBC

    Former PM Suga worked closely with Abe, in his prime ministerial team for more than seven years.

    In his speech he praised Abe’s achievements as a politician – in relations with North Korea and spearheading a campaign calling for the return of abducted Japanese people.

    He also noted Abe’s leadership on foreign policy deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.”Thank you so much for all you have done. May you rest in peace.”

    Ex-PM Suga
    Credit: Getty Images

    Representatives from Japan’s Imperial Family offered prayers and tributes.

    Dressed in mourning black, several members – including Fumihito, Crown Prince of Japan, and Kiko, Crown Princess Akishino – approached the altar where they lay flowers.

    A member of the Japanese imperial family attends the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe

    Mr Abe’s immediate family, including his wife Akie, remained seated in the front row.

    Here are some moments from earlier on:

    Akie Abe cries while mourners seated next to her watch a video tribute to her late husband
    Copyright: EPA
    Image caption: Akie Abe cries while mourners seated next to her watch a video tribute to her late husband
    Akie Abe, dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono outfit, bows and holds out a tribute to her late husband
    Copyright: Reuters
    Image caption: Earlier she had been among the first to approach the altar to pay tribute
    Packed rows of guests stand for a minute silence in front of a portrait of Mr Abe
    Copyright: EPA
    Image caption: More than 4,500 people attended including hundreds of foreign guests
    Mr Abe's ashes in a ceremonial bag and his honours in a box in the middle of the shrine
    Copyright: EPA
     

    Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe died in a hospital after he was shot at a political campaign event in July this year.

    Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech on a street in the city of Nara on Friday morning.

    Source: BBC

     

     

  • Japan man sets himself on fire in apparent protest of Abe funeral

    A Japanese man has set himself alight reportedly to protest a state funeral for ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July.

    Hundreds of foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the funeral on 27 September.

    On Wednesday, witnesses called police after spotting a man on fire near the prime minister’s office in Tokyo.

    Officers put out the blaze, and took the still-conscious man to hospital, local media reported.

    The extent of his injuries and his current condition is unknown. Japanese media reports say the man is believed to be in his 70s.

    The government is yet to comment on the protest. But public opposition to the holding of the state funeral has intensified in recent months, with polls showing a majority of voters unhappy with the expenditure.

    Abe was shot dead on 8 July, aged 67, at a campaign rally for his political party. The killing of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister was condemned internationally and shocked Japan, a country with a minimal record of political violence and gun crime.

    But state funerals are not an established practice in Japan, and protesters say they resent the use of public funds on the event that is projected to cost about 1.65bn yen (£10.1m; $11.4m).

    One of the country’s main opposition parties, the Constitutional Democratic Party, has also said its lawmakers won’t participate in next week’s ceremony.

    Sour mood ahead of state funeral

    Many in Japan are commenting on how the mood around Abe’s state funeral contrasts starkly with the affection shown at the Queen’s state funeral in the UK.

    Surveys show a majority of Japanese are against the event. Aside from the amount of taxpayers’ money being spent, the guestlist – which reportedly includes representatives from the Burmese junta – is raising eyebrows.

    Others say that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is failing to address Abe’s and senior ruling party politicians’ links to the controversial Unification Church, and this is increasing opposition.

    Adding to the sour mood, a film about Abe’s murder – produced by a former member of the terror group the Japanese Red Army – will be shown next week, with critics saying it romanticises the killing.

    Police are yet to confirm details of the protest on Tuesday, but local media reported the man had voiced his opposition to the funeral to a nearby officer before setting himself alight.

    Handwritten notes were also found around him expressing the same message, local media reported.

    Criticism of the state funeral has also increased as more politicians in Japan’s parliament have been found to have connections with a controversial church.

    The man charged with killing Abe said he had targeted the former prime minister for his connections to the Unification Church, which he said had bankrupted his family.

    Source: BBC

  • Unification Church members accuse Japanese media of being bias over Abe killing

    Thousands of Unification Church members gathered in Seoul on Thursday to protest what they call discriminatory and unfair Japanese media coverage of their church since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe‘s assassination.

    The suspect in Abe’s July 8 shooting, Tetsuya Yamagami, bore a grudge against the church, alleging it bankrupted his mother and blaming Abe for promoting it, according to his social media posts and news reports.

    “Stop biased reporting and religious persecution!” demonstrators in the South Korean capital chanted in Korean and Japanese, holding placards reading “Respect religious freedom!” and “Stop hate speech” toward the church.

    Longstanding links between the strongly anti-communist church, which critics call a cult, and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, have hurt the popularity of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government, prompting him to reshuffle his cabinet last week and say the church held no sway over the party.

    Founded in South Korea in the 1950s by self-declared messiah Sun Myung Moon and known for its mass weddings, the group has faced criticism for its fundraising and other issues. The church rejects such views and says it is a legitimate religious movement.

    Demonstrators at the central Seoul rally, who numbered about 4,000 according to a church spokesperson, called for respecting religious freedom and said a prayer to mourn Abe’s death. Reuters could not independently verify the crowd size.

    Participants said the Japanese press vilified the Unification Church, tying it to Abe’s killing and exposing members to social discrimination, while police investigation of the shooting was still underway.

    “The media is witch-hunting the family federation with groundless, sensational and biased reports day and night,” said Taeko Yamada, a Japanese member who married a South Korean at a mass wedding, referring to the church’s full name, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.

    Abe, who remained a powerful LDP politician until his death, appeared at an event hosted by an group affiliated with the church last September. He delivered a speech praising the affiliate’s work for peace on the Korean peninsula, according to the church’s website.

    Source; Reuters

  • Invest in the security of Members of Parliament – Afenyo-Markin pleads with govt

    Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on the arms of government to prioritize the security of Members of Parliament.

    Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, he stated that measures must be put in place to ensure the safety of public office holders as attacks on lives are unannounced.

    “Japan never expected this and this is very sad, so Mr Speaker, I call on Parliament to invest in the security of Members of Parliament. I call on the executive to invest in the security of the executive. I call on all arms of government to take interest in the country of public office holders” he pointed out.

    His comments came at the back of the recent assassination of Former Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe.

    Alexander Afenyo-Markin further urged the Members of Parliament to communicate to their constituents despite the discourse that happens between the parliamentarians.

    According to him, the kind of situations some Ghanaians find themselves in, compel them to act in a manner that may threaten the lives of legislators.

    “Mr. Speaker the time has also come for us to go the extra mile to communicate with our constituents, because Mr. Speaker the situations people find themselves leads them to behave in a certain manner.

    It is important that even in our discourse as politicians, we don’t encourage hard lying views and extremist views to take precedence over very liberal and moderate  approach to our public discourse“ the MP advised.

    Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe died Friday July 8, 2022 after being shot at a campaign event, an attack that shocked a country where gun violence is virtually nonexistent.

    Shinzo Abe, 67,was a towering political presence even after he stepped down as Japanese longest serving Prime Minister.

    Abe was rushed to Nara Medical University Hospital after going into cardio and pulmonary arrest. The hospital announced his death shortly after 5am.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

     

  • Shinzo Abe: Japanese mourners pay last respects to ex-PM at funeral

    Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tokyo to pay their last respects to ex-Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

    A hearse bearing Abe’s body made its way past several landmarks before arriving at the Kirigaya funeral hall in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo.

    The private funeral, which was only open to friends and close family, took place at the Zojoji temple earlier.

    The 67-year-old was shot dead last Friday while delivering a campaign speech in Nara in southern Japan.

    Across Tokyo, flags are flying at half mast and outside the temple, a long line of mourners stretched over two blocks, many of them carrying bouquets of flowers.

    Some stood with their heads bowed in prayer, some were in tears and others shouted “Thank you Abe” or “Goodbye Abe” as the motorcade drove past.

    The late prime minister’s widow and chief mourner, Akie Abe, sat in the front seat of the hearse which carried Abe’s body.

    Many mourners told the BBC that Abe gave them a sense of safety and security – one woman said that during the early days of Covid, she felt the Abe-led government had dealt with the crisis effectively.

    The hearse went past the headquarters of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and made its way to the prime minister’s residence, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other lawmakers received the motorcade.

    It then passed by the parliament building, where Abe first entered as a lawmaker in 1993, before arriving at the funeral hall.

    Throngs of people show up to pay their last respects to the former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo on 12 July, 2022.
    Image caption, Many turned up outside the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo, where the funeral was held

    Abe was Japan’s longest-serving post-war prime minister and one of its most influential politicians.

    Police said the gunman targeted him due to grievances he had with a religious group that he believed Abe was a part of.

    The attack sent shockwaves through a nation where incidences of gun violence are extremely rare.

    A vigil held on Monday evening drew hundreds of dignitaries as well as thousands of ordinary Japanese citizens who came to lay flowers.

    “I came here to offer flowers because I think he gave the Japanese something to be proud about,” said Emi Osa.

    Abe was delivering a campaign speech in support of a candidate for Japan’s upper house election when he was shot twice.

    Footage of the attack showed the gunman, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, using a makeshift weapon made of metal and wood and held together by duct tape.

    Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck and damage to his heart during the attack. He was said to be conscious and responsive in the minutes after the attack, but doctors said no vital signs were detected by the time he was transferred for treatment.

    Police are still investigating what the gunman’s motives were and whether he acted alone.

    Members of the Japan information and study centre hold a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to the late former prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, at Ahmedabad Management Association in Ahmedabad on July 9, 2022, after Abe was shot dead during a campaign speech on July 8 in Nara.
    IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES Image caption, Hundreds showed up to pay their last respects to the former prime minister of Japan

    The shooting left Japan, a country unaccustomed to gun crimes and political violence, profoundly shaken. On average, there are fewer than 10 gun-related deaths in the country each year.

    Guns are extremely difficult to acquire, and mandatory training, extensive background checks and psychological evaluation are required before permits are granted.

    Abe’s death drew an outpouring of shock from prominent world leaders, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemning the shooting as a “despicable attack”.

    US President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Kishida to express his “outrage, sadness and deep condolences”, and called the assassination “a tragedy for Japan”.

    Source: BBC

  • Japan ex-PM Shinzo Abe assassinated

    Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died in a hospital after he was shot at a political campaign event, say local media.

    Mr Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech in the southern city of Nara on Friday morning.

    He immediately collapsed and was rushed to the nearest hospital. Pictures taken at the scene showed him bleeding.

    Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman, and the 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.

    In an emotional press conference earlier, prime minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that Mr Abe was in a “very grave condition”.

    “Currently doctors are doing everything they can,” said Mr Kishida who appeared to be holding back tears, adding that he was “praying from his heart” that Mr Abe would survive.

    He also condemned the attack, saying: “It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.”

    The Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that Mr Abe had a bullet wound on the right of his neck, and also suffered subcutaneous bleeding under the left part of his chest.

    It is unclear if both shots hit him, or if a bullet hit him on the neck and travelled elsewhere.

    National broadcaster NHK said Mr Abe was “conscious and responsive” while he was transported to the hospital, citing police sources.

    But it also quoted a senior member of Mr Abe’s party as saying the 67-year-old’s situation was “worrisome”. Mr Abe’s younger brother told reporters that the former PM was receiving a blood transfusion.

    Ex-Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe had earlier said in a tweet that Mr Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. The term is often used before a death is officially confirmed in Japan.

    Eyewitnesses see man with large gun

    Mr Abe was giving a stump speech for a political candidate in Nara at a road junction when the attack happened.

    Eyewitnesses said they saw a man carrying what they described as a large gun and firing twice at Mr Abe from behind.

    Security officers detained the attacker, who made no attempt to run, and seized his weapon which was reportedly a handmade gun.

    The suspect has been identified as Nara resident Tetsuya Yamagami. Local media reports say he is believed to be a former member of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan’s equivalent of a navy.

    Mr Abe’s speech came as part of a campaign for his former party, the Liberal Democratic Party, as upper house elections in Japan are due to take place later this week.

    Ministers across the country were later told to return to Tokyo immediately, according to local reports.

    On Japanese social media, the hashtag “We want democracy, not violence” was trending, with many social media users expressing their horror and disgust towards the incident.

    Source: BBC

  • Shinzo Abe: Japan ex-PM ‘in grave condition’ after shooting

    Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe is said to be in grave condition after he was shot at a political campaign event.

    Mr Abe was shot at twice while he was giving a speech in the southern city of Nara on Friday morning.

    He immediately collapsed and was rushed to the nearest hospital. Pictures taken at the scene showed him bleeding.

    Security officials at the scene tackled the gunman, and the 41-year-old suspect is now in police custody.

    In an emotional press conference a few hours later, prime minister Fumio Kishida told reporters that Mr Abe was in a “very grave condition”.

    “Currently doctors are doing everything they can,” said Mr Kishida who appeared to be holding back tears, adding that he was “praying from his heart” that Mr Abe would survive.

    He also condemned the attack, saying: “It is barbaric and malicious and it cannot be tolerated.”

    The Fire and Disaster Management Agency confirmed that Mr Abe had a bullet wound on the right of his neck, and also suffered subcutaneous bleeding under the left part of his chest.

    Aerials from the scene where former Japan PM Abe was shot

    It is unclear if both shots hit him, or if a bullet hit him on the neck and travelled elsewhere.

    National broadcaster NHK said Mr Abe was “conscious and responsive” while being transported to the hospital, citing police sources.

    But it also quoted a senior member of Mr Abe’s party as saying the 67-year-old’s situation was “worrisome” and that he was getting a blood transfusion.

    Ex-Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe had earlier said in a tweet that Mr Abe was in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest. The term is often used before a death is officially confirmed in Japan.

    Eyewitnesses see man with large gun

    Mr Abe was giving a stump speech for a political candidate in Nara at a road junction when the attack happened.

    Eyewitnesses said they saw a man carrying what they described as a large gun and firing twice at Mr Abe from behind.

    Security officers detained the attacker, who made no attempt to run, and seized his weapon which was reportedly a handmade gun.

    The suspect has been identified as Nara resident Tetsuya Yamagami. Local media reports say he is believed to be a former member of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force, Japan’s equivalent of a navy.

    Mr Abe’s speech came as part of a campaign for his former party, the Liberal Democratic Party, as upper house elections in Japan are due to take place later this week.

    Ministers across the country were later told to return to Tokyo immediately, according to local reports.

    On Japanese social media, the hashtag “We want democracy, not violence” was trending, with many social media users expressing their horror and disgust towards the incident.

    Source: BBC

  • Japan expected to declare state of emergency

    Parts of Japan are expected to go into a state of emergency in the coming days. That’s according to Japanese media, as the number of confirmed infections continues to rise despite measures to contain the virus.

    Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to announce the move later on Monday though it’s thought it won’t come into effect that same day. It likely won’t be for the entire country but for big cities such as Tokyo and Osaka only.

    The decision would give the government the power to implement stricter measures to ask people to stay at home or to close businesses. It will not, though, give Mr Abe the power to impose full lockdowns like we’ve seen in China, or some European countries, where there are heavy fines for breaking the rules.

    Japan has had more than 3,600 confirmed infections and 85 deaths. There’s particular concern for Tokyo, where the number of people with confirmed infections has been sharply rising and now exceeds 1,000.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Japan expected to declare state of emergency over coronavirus

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading across the country, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the cumulative number of infections topped 1,000 in Tokyo alone.

    Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said, while Kyodo news agency said new measures would likely come into force on Wednesday.

    Pressure had been mounting on the government to make the move as the pace of infections continues to accelerate – particularly in the capital – even though it remains slow for now compared with the United States, countries in Europe and China, where thousands have died.

    Sounding alarm over the high rate of cases that couldn’t be traced, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated last week that she would favour a state-of-emergency declaration as a means to help her urge residents to adhere to stronger social-distancing measures.

    Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.

    Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said on Monday that a decision had yet to be made.

    Declaring an emergency would give governors in severely affected regions legal authority to call on people to stay home and businesses to close, but not to impose the kind of lockdowns seen in other countries. In most cases, there are no penalties for ignoring requests, and enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and respect for authority.

    The government is likely to designate the greater Tokyo metropolitan area for the state of emergency, and possibly also Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in western Japan, the Yomiuri reported.

    More than 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 have died in Japan from the COVID-19 disease associated with new coronavirus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

    While that toll is dwarfed by 335,000 infections and more than 9,500 deaths in the United States alone, experts worry a sudden surge could strain Japan’s medical system and leave patients with nowhere to go.

    Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute for Public Health at King’s College, London, said Abe’s decision on a state of emergency was too late given the explosive rise in Tokyo.

    “It should have been declared by April 1 at the latest,” he said.

    Abe must seek formal advice from a panel of experts before deciding to go ahead and declare a state of emergency. One medical professional on the panel has said a decision to do so was “complex”, involving political, economic and other factors.

    The government’s coronavirus task force – a separate entity from the panel of experts – is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday evening. Government spokesman Suga said he was not aware of any meeting with the advisory panel of experts itself on Monday.

    Governors in Tokyo and elsewhere have previously asked citizens to stay home on weekends, avoid crowds and evening outings, and work from home. That had some effect, but less than many experts said was needed.

    Restricting movement and businesses under a state of emergency would deal a heavy blow to an economy already struggling to avoid a recession. The government is readying a stimulus package of hundreds of billions of dollars to be rolled out this week.

    Source: France24

  • Japan expected to declare state of emergency over coronavirus

    Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will declare a state of emergency as early as Tuesday in a bid to stop the coronavirus spreading across the country, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, as the cumulative number of infections topped 1,000 in Tokyo alone.

    Abe will likely announce his plans to declare the emergency on Monday, the paper said, while Kyodo news agency said new measures would likely come into force on Wednesday.

    Pressure had been mounting on the government to make the move as the pace of infections continues to accelerate particularly in the capital even though it remains slow for now compared with the United States, countries in Europe and China, where thousands have died.

    Sounding alarm over the high rate of cases that couldn’t be traced, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike indicated last week that she would favour a state-of-emergency declaration as a means to help her urge residents to adhere to stronger social-distancing measures.

    Under a law revised in March to cover the coronavirus, the prime minister can declare a state of emergency if the disease poses a “grave danger” to lives and if its rapid spread could have a huge impact on the economy.

    Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said on Monday that a decision had yet to be made.

    Declaring an emergency would give governors in severely affected regions legal authority to call on people to stay home and businesses to close, but not to impose the kind of lockdowns seen in other countries. In most cases, there are no penalties for ignoring requests, and enforcement will rely more on peer pressure and respect for authority.

    The government is likely to designate the greater Tokyo metropolitan area for the state of emergency, and possibly also Osaka and Hyogo prefectures in western Japan, the Yomiuri reported.

    More than 3,500 people have tested positive and 85 have died in Japan from the COVID-19 disease associated with new coronavirus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

    While that toll is dwarfed by 335,000 infections and more than 9,500 deaths in the United States alone, experts worry a sudden surge could strain Japan’s medical system and leave patients with nowhere to go.

    ‘Too late’

    Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute for Public Health at King’s College, London, said Abe’s decision on a state of emergency was too late given the explosive rise in Tokyo.

    “It should have been declared by April 1 at the latest,” he said.

    Abe must seek formal advice from a panel of experts before deciding to go ahead and declare a state of emergency. One medical professional on the panel has said a decision to do so was “complex”, involving political, economic and other factors.

    The government’s coronavirus task force a separate entity from the panel of experts is scheduled to hold a meeting on Monday evening. Government spokesman Suga said he was not aware of any meeting with the advisory panel of experts itself on Monday.

    Governors in Tokyo and elsewhere have previously asked citizens to stay home on weekends, avoid crowds and evening outings, and work from home. That had some effect, but less than many experts said was needed.

    Restricting movement and businesses under a state of emergency would deal a heavy blow to an economy already struggling to avoid a recession. The government is readying a stimulus package of hundreds of billions of dollars to be rolled out this week.

    Source: France24