Lack of security for Japanese prime minister surprised many
April 17, 2023 GMTWAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) — The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese political leader in less than a year were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Explosive thrown at Japan PM at campaign event; 1 hurt
April 15, 2023 GMTWAKAYAMA, Japan (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed Saturday after someone threw an explosive device in his direction while he was campaigning at a fishing port in western Japan, officials said.
Suspect charged with murder in assassination of Japan’s Abe
January 13, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese prosecutors formally charged the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder, sending him to stand trial, a court said Friday.
Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Abe with a homemade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July outside a train station in Nara in western Japan.
Lawyer: Suspect in Abe assassination to face murder charge
January 13, 2023 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese prosecutors are expected to formally charge the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder on Friday, his lawyer said.
Tetsuya Yamagami was arrested immediately after allegedly shooting Abe with a handmade gun as the former leader was making a campaign speech in July outside a train station in Nara in western Japan.
Japan ruling party lawmaker quits over funds scandal
December 21, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A key governing party lawmaker in Japan who served in key posts resigned Wednesday over a political funding scandal in a fresh embarrassment for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Kentaro Sonoura, an expert on diplomacy and security, admitted last month that his aide has been investigated by prosecutors over alleged underreporting of political funds.
New Japan law aims at Unification Church fundraising abuses
December 10, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s parliament on Saturday enacted a law to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups, which mainly targets the Unification Church, whose fundraising tactics and cozy ties with the governing party caused public outrage.
Japan PM promises law to help Unification Church victims
November 8, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday he will speed up the drafting and passage of a law to regulate the collection of donations by religious groups and protect families of believers after he met with victims of the Unification Church and was heartbroken by their “horrendous experiences.”
Japan Cabinet minister resigns over Unification Church ties
October 25, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy minister submitted his resignation Monday over ties to the Unification Church after facing mounting criticism in a widening controversy involving dozens of governing party lawmakers.
Japan and Australia PMs to focus on closer military ties
October 19, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday he will discuss with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida strengthening their bilateral defense and security partnership to counter a more assertive China when the leaders meet in Australia this week.
Japan PM orders probe of Unification Church problems
October 17, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida ordered an investigation Monday into the Unification Church in an apparent move to calm the public outrage over his governing party’s cozy ties with the controversial group, which were revealed in the wake of Shinzo Abe’s assassination.
Japan’s Kishida vows to regain trust in church controversy
October 3, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday that he will humbly listen to people’s “harsh voices” criticizing his governing party’s cozy ties to the ultra-conservative Unification Church and help victims of its allegedly fraudulent businesses and huge donation collection.
Abe’s militaristic funeral captures Japan’s tense mood
September 28, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The leadup to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial state funeral could seem like a never-ending exchange of heated words — both for and against. But it was the images of Tuesday’s ceremony that most clearly told the story of a nation still deeply divided over the legacy of perhaps the most polarizing leader in its modern history.
Japanese former leader Abe honored at divisive state funeral
September 27, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's assassinated hawkish former leader, Shinzo Abe, was given a rare state funeral Tuesday full of military pomp and surrounded by throngs of mourners as well as by widespread protests, with thousands taking to the streets in opposition.
Tokyo Olympics bribery arrests widens to third Japan sponsor
September 27, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Bribery allegations against a former Tokyo Olympics organizing committee member ensnared a third company that sponsored the Games, as Japanese prosecutors “re-arrested” Haruyuki Takahashi for the third time Tuesday.
In Tokyo, Harris calls US-Japan alliance ‘a cornerstone’
September 27, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shortly after arriving in Tokyo for the state funeral of assassinated former leader Shinzo Abe.
Kishida opens diplomacy rush as Japan preps divisive funeral
September 26, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a series of meetings with foreign dignitaries Monday in what he's called “funeral diplomacy" the day before he hosts a controversial state-sponsored ceremony for former leader Shinzo Abe.
EXPLAINER: Why is Japan split over Abe’s state funeral?
September 26, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A rare state funeral for Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister who was assassinated in July, has split Japan.
Ceremony and controversy await Harris during visit to Asia
September 25, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Attending funerals on behalf of the United States is normally a straightforward assignment for a vice president, but Kamala Harris will confront controversy at nearly every turn as she visits Asia for the memorial honoring former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Hundreds demand cancellation of Japanese ex-leader’s funeral
September 23, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Several hundred protesters demanded the cancellation of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s state funeral as they shouted slogans and waved banners Friday in a Tokyo park.
“Abe’s policies supported war,” demonstrator Mayumi Ishida said, noting Abe consistently sought to raise defense spending.
Unification Church pledges reforms after Abe’s assassination
September 23, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The Unification Church, whose close ties with Japan's governing party have emerged after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, acknowledged Thursday that it had accepted “excessive” donations from the suspect's mother, and that it would need to consider it seriously if that led to the killing.
Man sets himself on fire in apparent protest of Abe funeral
September 21, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A man set himself on fire near the Japanese prime minister's office in Tokyo on Wednesday in an apparent protest against the state funeral planned next week for former leader Shinzo Abe, officials and media reports said.
Half of Japan governing lawmakers tied to Unification Church
September 9, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's governing party said Thursday that an internal survey found that nearly half of its national lawmakers had ties to the Unification Church, in a widening controversy that emerged after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Australian PM plus 3 former PMs to attend Shinzo Abe funeral
September 8, 2022 GMTCANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia will be represented by its government leader plus three former leaders at Shinzo Abe’s state funeral this month in an extraordinary mark of respect for Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.
Harris to lead US delegation to Japan for Abe’s funeral
September 7, 2022 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris will lead the U.S. delegation to the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month, the White House announced Wednesday.
Japan PM apologizes for party’s church links, will cut ties
August 31, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday his ruling party will cut ties with the Unification Church following a widening scandal triggered by former leader Shinzo Abe's assassination last month, and apologized for causing the loss of public trust in politics.
Abe murder suspect says life destroyed by mother’s religion
August 27, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The brazen assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a handmade gun shocked a nation unused to high-profile political violence.
Japan police chief to resign over Abe shooting death
August 25, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's national police chief said Thursday he will resign to take responsibility over shortfalls in security that an investigation by his own agency showed did not adequately safeguard former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from a fatal shooting of at a campaign speech last month.
Unification Church followers decry ‘biased’ Japanese media
August 18, 2022 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Thousands of Unification Church followers rallied in South Korea on Thursday protesting negative Japanese media coverage of their religion after the suspect in the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe blamed the church for his family’s troubles.
Japan marks WWII’s end, Kishida doesn’t mention aggression
August 15, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida renewed Japan's no-war pledge at a somber ceremony Monday as his country marked the 77th anniversary of its World War II defeat, but he did not mention Japanese wartime aggression.
Japan PM purges Cabinet after support falls over church ties
August 11, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday in an apparent bid to distance his administration from the conservative Unification Church over its ties to the assassinated leader Shinzo Abe and senior ruling party members.
Lawyers say church caused suffering for Abe’s alleged killer
July 29, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A group of lawyers said Friday that the alleged assassin of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was one of many victims of the Unification Church, which has long cultivated ties with high-level Japanese politicians.
Alleged Abe assassin to undergo mental evaluation until Nov
July 25, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The alleged assassin of Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be detained until late November for mental evaluation so prosecutors can determine whether to formally press charges and send him to trial for murder, officials said Monday.
Japan Cabinet sets Abe state funeral amid mixed public view
July 22, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's Cabinet on Friday formally decided to hold a state funeral on Sept. 27 for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid national debate over the plan, which some criticize as an attempt to glorify a divisive political figure.
Japan extends detention for Abe’s alleged assassin
July 19, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese authorities have obtained court approval to extend the detention of the suspect in former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination earlier this month for 10 more days until they file formal charges.
EXPLAINER: The Unification Church’s ties to Japan’s politics
July 17, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unearthed long-suspected, little-talked-of links between him and a religious group that started in South Korea but has spread its influence around the world.
Police probe of Abe security lapse begins as Japan mourns
July 16, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Officials from Japan's top police agency began their probe into security lapses blamed for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination a week ago Friday in western Japan, where people brought flowers to pray for the influential but divisive former leader.
Japan PM blames police for death of former leader Shinzo Abe
July 14, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday blamed inadequate police protection for the death of former leader Shinzo Abe, who was shot last week while giving an outdoor campaign speech.
Japan police find bullet marks near Abe assassination site
July 13, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese police said Wednesday they have found what they believe are several bullet marks on a building near the site of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination last week in western Japan, apparently from the first shot fired from a suspect's powerful homemade gun that narrowly missed Abe.
Japanese say final goodbye to assassinated former leader Abe
July 12, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japanese bid their final goodbye to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday as his funeral was held at a temple days after his assassination shocked the nation.
Abe, the country's longest-serving prime minister, remained influential even after stepping down two years ago for health reasons.
China protests Taiwan’s VP paying respects at Abe’s memorial
July 12, 2022 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China has filed a formal protest with Japan over the presence of the Taiwanese vice president at a memorial for assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province to be reunited by force if necessary and objects to any expression of its independent political identity.
Abe’s complicated legacy looms large for current Japan PM
July 12, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was perhaps the most divisive leader in recent Japanese history, infuriating liberals with his revisionist views of history and his dreams of military expansion.
Key moments in life of Shinzo Abe, former Japanese leader
July 12, 2022 GMTShinzo Abe was born into a prominent political family and became Japan's longest-serving prime minister. He was credited with instilling political and economic stability though he angered Japan's neighbors South Korea and China — along with many Japanese — with his nationalistic rhetoric and calls to revise the country’s pacifist constitution.
Unification Church distances itself from Abe’s assassination
July 12, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The Unification Church confirmed the mother of the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a member and said it was cooperating with the police investigation into possible motives.
Abe’s party vows to finish his work after win in Japan vote
July 12, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Days after former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination, his party vowed to use its victory in a parliamentary election to achieve his unfinished goals, including strengthening the military and revising the country’s pacifist, postwar constitution.
Abe, Gadhafi and other political assassinations this century
July 11, 2022 GMTJapan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated Friday by a gunman who opened fire on him as he delivered a campaign speech on a street in western Japan.
‘Terrorism’: Abe killing seen as attack on Japan’s democracy
July 11, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — An attack on democracy and freedom of speech. A throwback to the political murders of prewar Japan. Terrorism.
Abe’s killing haunts Japan with questions on homemade guns
July 11, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The shooting sent shudders through low-crime, orderly Japan: A prominent politician was killed by a man emerging from a crowd, wielding a homemade firearm so roughly constructed it was wrapped in tape.
Japan ruling party wins big in polls in wake of Abe’s death
July 11, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan's governing party and its coalition partner scored a major victory in a parliamentary election Sunday imbued with meaning after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe amid uncertainty about how his loss may affect party unity.
Top US diplomat to pay Abe condolence visit to Japan
July 10, 2022 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will pay a brief condolence visit to Japan next week following the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the State Department said Sunday.
Abe’s death raises security questions as Japan mourns
July 9, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — A top police official on Saturday acknowledged possible security lapses that allowed an assassin to fire his gun into former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe while he was addressing a campaign rally, raising questions how could the attacker get so close behind him.
Pope highlights Japan’s commitment to peace after Abe killed
July 9, 2022 GMTROME (AP) — Pope Francis prays that Japan will strengthen its commitment to peace and nonviolence despite the “senseless” assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Vatican said Saturday.
Abe impersonated ‘Super Mario’ to promote Tokyo Olympics
July 9, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Despite his prominence as Japan’s longest serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe may have enjoyed his biggest moment at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics before 70,000 at the city’s renown Maracana stadium.
Japan’s ex-leader Shinzo Abe assassinated during a speech
July 9, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated Friday on a street in western Japan by a gunman who opened fire on him from behind as he delivered a campaign speech — an attack that stunned a nation with some of the strictest gun control laws anywhere.
Japan’s tight gun laws add to shock over Abe’s assassination
July 8, 2022 GMTTOKYO (AP) — The assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in broad daylight Friday shocked a world that has come to associate Japan with relatively low crime and strict gun control.
Assassination of Japan’s Shinzo Abe stuns world leaders
July 8, 2022 GMTKUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Leaders around the world condemned the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday as “despicable,” “cowardly” and “terrorism” while recalling him as a man devoted to peace, security and international cooperation.
Gov: Flags to be lowered for Abe, ‘true friend’ of Hawaii
July 8, 2022 GMTHONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's governor ordered the U.S. and state flags to be flown at half-staff to honor former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, calling the assassinated ex-leader a friend of the islands.
A look at high-profile political assassinations this century
July 8, 2022 GMTATHENS, Greece (AP) — Japanese former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated Friday by a gunman who opened fire on him as he delivered a campaign speech on a street in western Japan, shocking the country.
Facebook, Twitter remove Shinzo Abe assassination videos
July 8, 2022 GMTLONDON (AP) — Twitter, Facebook parent Meta and other social media companies scrambled Friday to police videos on their platforms of the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that break rules on harmful content.
G-20 diplomats fail on unity over Ukraine, war’s impact
July 8, 2022 GMTNUSA DUA, Indonesia (AP) — Deeply divided top diplomats from the world’s richest and largest developing nations failed to find common ground Friday over Russia’s war in Ukraine and how to deal with its global impacts, leaving prospects for future cooperation in the forum uncertain.