A steady stream of mournerson Saturday visited the scene of former Japanese Prime MinisterShinzo Abe’s assassination in the western city of Nara, anunusual act of political violence that has shocked the nation.
Japan’s longest serving modern leader was gunned down whilemaking a campaign speech on Friday morning by a 41-year-old man,in a deed decried by the political establishment as an attack ondemocracy itself.
“I’m just shocked that this kind of thing happened in Nara,”Natsumi Niwa, a 50-year-old housewife, said after offeringflowers with her 10-year-old son near the scene of the killingat a downtown train station.
Abe, a conservative and architect of the “Abenomics”policies aimed at reflating the Japanese economy, inspired thename of her son, Masakuni, with his rallying cry of Japan as a“beautiful nation”, Niwa said. “Kuni” means nation in Japanese.
Over 100 people were queuing to lay flowers at midday at atable featuring a photo of Abe giving a speech, with morearriving. Local officials were moving some of the offerings tocreate space.
A night vigil will be held on Monday, with Abe’s funeral totake place on Tuesday, attended by close friends, Japanese mediasaid. There was no immediate word on any public memorialservice.
Police are scrambling to establish details of the motive andmethod of Abe’s killer.
Tetsuya Yamagami, tackled and arrested immediately after theattack, told police he believed Abe was linked to a religiousgroup he blamed for ruining his mother financially and breakingup the family, local media reported, citing police sources.Police have not identified the group.
MOTORCADE ARRIVES IN TOKYO
Campaigning resumed on the final day of electioneeringbefore polling for the upper house of parliament, which isexpected to deliver victory to the ruling coalition led by PrimeMinister Fumio Kishida, an Abe protege.
Kishida was back on the campaign trail visiting regionalconstituencies after making an emergency return to Tokyo onFriday in the wake of the shooting.
Abe’s killing “heightens the prospect for stronger turnoutand greater support for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)”,Eurasia Group analysts including David Boling wrote in a note.
The LDP, where Abe retained considerable influence, hadalready been expected to gain seats before the assassination.The lawmaker, 67, served twice as prime minister, stepping downciting ill health on both occasions.
“His health was improving so I was hoping he would have athird term,” said 49-year-old Tatsuya Futami in Nara. “He wasstill young as a politician - it’s a great shame.”
Abe’s death has raised questions about security for publicfigures in Japan, where politicians commonly make direct appealsto voters outside train stations and supermarkets duringcampaigning season.
A strong election performance “could catalyze Kishida topush for Abe’s unfulfilled goal of amending Japan’s constitutionto allow for a stronger role for the military,” James Brady,vice president at advisory firm Teneo, wrote in a note.
Abe, scion of a political family who became Japan’s youngestpostwar premier, was rushed to a Nara hospital following theshooting. He did not regain consciousness and was pronounceddead five and a half hours after the late-morning attack.
A motorcade thought to be carrying the body of the slainpolitician arrived at his Tokyo residence after leaving the Narahospital early on Saturday. Kishida visited the residence, Kyodoreported.
Kishida spoke on Saturday with U.S President Joe Biden, whoexpressed his condolences and praised Abe’s leadership, NHKreported.
Abe was key in the creation of the Quad grouping aimed atcountering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Theother members, the United States, India and Australia, expressedshock at the assassination in a joint statement.
“We will honour Prime Minister Abe’s memory by redoublingour work towards a peaceful and prosperous region,” thestatement said.
