Who was Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe?

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8, 2022 while giving a campaign speech. His surprising death prompted the world to wonder - who was this man that someone hated so deeply, he fashioned a home made gun to shoot him?

Shinzo was born in Tokyo in 1954 to a political family. His father served in the House of Representatives, and his grandfather served as Vice Minister of Munitions, founded the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and served as Prime Minister from 1957-1960.

Abe did all of his schooling in Seiki and graduated with a degree in Political Science in 1977. His first job after college was at Kobe Steel, but he soon left to pursue political positions. He first served as Executive Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Through the 1980's and 1990's Abe traveled the world and climbed the political ranks, eventually leading to his being elected Director of the Social Affairs Division in 1999.

In 2000, Abe's home as well as those of his supporters were attacked with molotov cocktails by Yakuza members. The cause for these attacks is believed to have been due to Abe's refusal to pay cash for supporting a mayoral candidate.

In 2002 Abe gained national popularity for defying North Korea by demanding that Japanese abductees remain in Japan. In 2006 he was elected as the president of the LDP and inaugurated as Prime Minister. At age 51, he was the youngest Prime Minister since 1941.

However, Abe's term was fraught with financial scandals since day 1. During election season, Agriculture Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka committed suicide amidst fundraising allegations, and the next 2 Agriculture Ministers resigned quickly.

In 2007, Abe announced his own resignation as Prime Minister. He later revealed that this was partly due to his having ulcerative colitis, but he recovered and was elected as President of the LDP in 2012, and then re-elected as Prime Minister. He served 4 consecutive terms.

Abe's approval ratings dropped in 2020 as he faced allegations of favoritism and falsifying documents for parliament. Some called the scandals "Abegate" and even a former Prime Minister called for Abe to resign. In June of 2020 Abe was hospitalized with colitis and resigned.

In July of 2022, while supporting a fellow LDP party member, 41 year old Tetsuya Yamagami shot and killed Abe. He confessed that his motivation was Abe's connection to and support of the Unification Church, which the man alleged had brainwashed and bankrupted his mother.