Shinzo Abe’s Conflicting Legacy

Lily Wasmund | August 25, 2022

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated on July 8 in the city of Nara, Japan during an endorsement speech for a Japanese Parliament candidate. Tributes arrived from presidents, prime ministers, lawmakers, and diplomats around the world, sharing condolences for the fallen global leader. U.S. President Joe Biden even ordered that American flags be flown at half-mast across the country in honor of Abe’s death.

Japan responded with an outpouring of grief for its former prime minister. Abe’s death by gunshot would shock a country known for its tight gun restrictions and low crime rate. The 67-year-old served longer than any other Japanese prime minister—9 years over four terms—before stepping down in 2020. As Japan mourns Abe’s death, appreciation for the security, stability and global standing that Abe brought to Japan is being vocalized (BBC).

In 2012, after a massive earthquake that led to a tsunami and nuclear disaster in the eastern city of Fukushima, Abe returned for a second term as prime minister with the goal of lifting Japan back onto its feet through an economic plan referred to as “Abenomics.” Reparations for the earthquake and damages caused by the tsunami had a price tag of $360 billion USD— making it the most expensive disaster to date (World Vision). Although Abenomics was not fully successful in every aspect, the Japanese economic market did rebound as employment soared and stock prices skyrocketed (BBC). Abe is also recognized as an important statesman. From 2012 to 2020, Abe made over 80 visits to other nations to build cubical political and economic trade alliances strengthening Japan’s ties with many global leaders (Washington Post).

Abe, however, was no stranger to criticism. He has been negatively compared to other nationalist leaders who are often described as dictators, like Viktor Orban of Hungary and Vladimir Putin of Russia, as he set his sights on making Japan more militaristic, discontinuing its peaceful post-WWII reputation. However, this comparison doesn’t give Abe the credit he deserves: though he had militaristic ambitions, he resisted any urges he may have had to assume greater power like Xi Jinping or tin. Instead, Abe strengthened democratic ties with global democracies (NYT).

Abe’s tune as prime minister faced challenges as regional relations faltered under his government. But South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol called the shooting of Abe “an unforgivable act of crime.”

Abe’s focus on recasting Japan on the global stage as a strategic ally to democracy and progress is what is now being remembered about the former prime minister. Abe emphasized his commitment to peaceful negotiations and diplomacy and even while out of office his influence loomed over Japan’s ruling party, the Liberal Democrats (NYT).

His tragic death reminds the world of Abe’s list of accomplishments as one of the most transformational politicians in Japan. Former President Barack Obama shared in commemoration of the Prime Minister, “I will always remember the work we did to strengthen our alliance, the moving experience of traveling to Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor together, and the grace he and his wife Akie Abe showed to me and Michelle.”

Abe will remain a monumental figure, representing the fight for democracy and raising Japan’s international profile. May Japan continue to embrace the expanded regional role generation of Japanese officials and emulate his leadership