Akie Abe, the widow of late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Akie Abe, the widow of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, issued a statement through her legal representative following the sentencing of her husband's killer, Tetsuya Yamagami, on January 21.
Shinzo Abe was shot in July 2022 by Yamagami while making a campaign speech for the Upper House election in Nara City. Yamagami, who used a homemade gun, was charged with murder and other crimes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Nara District Court.
Akie Abe's full statement follows:
Statement of Akie Abe
With today's verdict from the Nara District Court, I feel a sense of closure after the long and difficult period following my husband's sudden death.
I am deeply grateful to everyone involved in the police and prosecution for their thorough investigation. They gathered and organized an enormous amount of evidence to clarify the facts. I also sincerely thank the court and the police for their tireless efforts in maintaining security to ensure the trial could proceed smoothly. My heartfelt gratitude goes to the judges and jurors for conducting a fair and impartial trial.
In particular, I am profoundly thankful to the jurors, who dedicated more than fifteen days to this trial while balancing their work and family responsibilities.
I hope the defendant fully confronts the reality of his actions and accepts responsibility for the crime of taking the life of my husband, an irreplaceable member of my family.
From this point forward, I will continue to live each day with care and purpose, carrying on my husband's wishes. My thoughts on this trial and the verdict are the same as those I expressed in my victim impact statement during the proceedings, which is attached as follows.
Victim Impact Statement (15th Hearing, December 18, 2025)
Hope for Japan
"Japan, bloom gloriously at the center of the world."
This was my husband Shinzo Abe's heartfelt wish. He often spoke of his vision for Japan as a nation where citizens feel naturally proud of being Japanese, confident in their heritage, and recognized by the world for their contributions — a country that shines on the global stage and plays an active, meaningful role in international affairs.
With the hope that Japan would "bloom gloriously at the center of the world," my husband, who served a total of 3,188 days as Prime Minister, made 89 foreign trips, visiting 196 countries and regions. He pursued what he called "diplomacy with a panoramic view of the world," cultivating friendships and fostering cooperation with leaders across the globe.
Following my husband's death, representatives from many countries, including the United States and Australia, issued formal condolence resolutions. Several countries, including India and Brazil, observed official periods of mourning. In various countries and regions, parks were named after him, and statues were erected in his honor.
Revealing Condolences
Our family received more than 1,700 condolence messages from world leaders. From United States President Donald Trump, we received this message: "He was a unifier like no other, but above all, he was a man who loved and cherished his magnificent country, Japan. Shinzo Abe will be greatly missed. There will never be another like him."
Recently, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told us: "With the shocking act of violence that took Shinzo Abe's life, Australia lost a great friend. Japan lost one of its most important post-war leaders. Under the Abe administration, Japan gained an important position as a leading democracy in the Western Pacific." [Unofficial translation.]
As I looked through the more than 1,700 condolence messages again, each word deeply conveyed that people around the world recognized and appreciated my husband's lifelong dedication to Japan and its citizens.
Many people attended his funeral at Zojoji Temple and the state funeral at the Budokan. Approximately 700 guests from 218 countries, regions, and international organizations, and a total of 4,183 people participated from Japan and abroad.
At the Budokan, the queue to offer flowers snaked several kilometers from Yotsuya Station, with 25,889 people paying tribute. Even now, across Japan, I continue to see and hear of many people who display photos of themselves with my husband or share stories of their encounters with him.
As the trial proceeded, I reflected on my husband's life and recognized once more how he devoted his life to the people of Japan, to Japan itself, and ultimately to world peace.
Rescue of the Abductees
One major mission my husband often said he must "absolutely accomplish as a politician" was the rescue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea. His involvement with the abduction issue dates back to his time as a political secretary.
While serving as a secretary to his father, Shintaro Abe, the mother of abductee Keiko Arimoto visited their office several times. At first, my husband was skeptical, thinking, "Could even a dictator really carry out such acts on a national scale?"
But after listening repeatedly to her heartfelt and urgent account, and those of other mothers of the abduction victims, he became convinced that North Korea had indeed abducted Japanese citizens.
At that time, only a few media outlets reported the possibility that these disappearances could actually be abductions. My husband reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government agencies, but he was met with indifferent responses.
In 1993, upon becoming a member of parliament, my husband began acting independently to address the abduction issue. At first, only a handful of lawmakers supported him, so the momentum was small. Over time, however, the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea, and a bipartisan parliamentary group on the issue were established, pushing the movement forward significantly.
In 2002, when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi visited North Korea, my husband, then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, accompanied him. They ultimately secured North Korea's acknowledgment of the abductions. After returning to Japan, he continued tirelessly to work toward the safe return of the remaining abductees.
Starting Over Again
During his first term as prime minister, his ulcerative colitis worsened, forcing him to resign mid-term. However, in 2009, thanks to the drug Asacol, his health improved miraculously.
He told me, "There are things I need to finish," and he dedicated himself to politics again. One major unfinished mission was undoubtedly the rescue of the abductees — something he knew could only be accomplished in his role as prime minister.
Together, we began anew, holding hundreds of small local meetings in Yamaguchi, our hometown, and speaking personally with thousands of people.
Upon returning to the Prime Minister's Office, he raised the abduction issue with world leaders, including President Trump, whenever the opportunity arose. My husband firmly believed that resolving the abductee issue was a responsibility only he could fulfill.
Worried for his safety, I once asked him, "What would I do if something happens to you?" He replied, "Politics is something you put your life on the line for. If that happens, just make a magnificent statement."
I felt a tightening in my chest at his words, but I laughed it off at the moment, saying, "Don't talk like that."
I never imagined that such a day would come.
July 8
On the morning of July 8, 2022, I sent him off as usual with a "Take care." Wearing his blue ribbon badge, symbolizing his wish to rescue abductees, he gave a campaign speech in front of Yamato-Saidaiji Station.
The bullet fired by the defendant struck and knocked off the badge.
If my husband had any regrets as a politician, it must have been for the abductees and their families — his devotion to them was struck down by a single bullet.
Yet, the blue ribbon badge did not break. Returning to me intact, it became a symbol of his unwavering determination to rescue the abductees.
Shinzo envisioned a society where people could have a second chance. In December 2016, the Act on the Prevention of Recidivism was enacted.
The law emphasizes that preventing repeat offenses requires offenders to take responsibility for their actions, understand the feelings of their victims, and make genuine efforts to reintegrate into society. It also supports their return to the community without isolation, with the understanding and cooperation of the public, so they can once again become contributing members of society.
I, too, participated in activities supporting the reintegration of former prisoners and in discussions on how to build a safer, crime-free society.
Then, one day, I became a family member of a crime victim. My husband's sudden death was so shocking that my mind went completely blank, and for a long time, it felt as if I were living in a dream.
My husband's mother had to face her son's body at home. Overcome with grief, she became more withdrawn and passed away on February 4, 2024. After that, I was completely alone.
The Trial
Sometimes tears come to my eyes when I see ordinary scenes of families walking by. And when I think of my husband, the tears flow with my natural emotions. Yet I try not to let hatred or resentment take root, carefully observing my emotions to prevent them from overwhelming me.
I attended this trial through the victim participation system, wearing my mother-in-law's scarf and the blue ribbon badge that symbolizes my husband's commitment to rescuing the abductees.
Since my husband was shot while giving a campaign speech in support of the Upper House election, I was concerned that the candidates, staff, and the many people gathered there were also put in danger.
Miraculously, or perhaps as the suspect intended, the bullet did not strike anyone else, which was a small silver lining.
In the eyes of the world, the trial concerns the murder of Shinzo Abe as a politician. While many have shared their opinions about the case, I wanted to see for myself the defendant's demeanor, expressions, and intentions, which is why I chose to participate.
The defendant did not apologize to me. During breaks, talking about my husband with my family would bring tears to my eyes.
Carrying His Legacy Forward
To many, he was the politician Shinzo Abe. To me, my husband was my irreplaceable family. The suddenness of his death and the inability to exchange final words have left a void that will remain with me for the rest of my life.
Had my husband continued as a member of parliament, it would have been challenging in its own way, and perhaps there would not have been so many young people honoring his achievements. Yet, because he passed away at that time, a new generation of young people has arisen to carry forward his will.
These are the words of Yoshida Shoin, whom my husband greatly respected: "Do not grieve for me, as it falls short of understanding me. And if you truly understand me, then take up my aspiration and make it greater."
In his Ryukonroku, there is also the phrase: "The seeds of future generations are not yet extinct," meaning that if someone carries on the will, the seeds that have been sown will continue to grow and bear fruit.
I believe that one meaning of my husband's early passing is that it has created an opportunity for young people to carry on his will and accomplish something for our country.
Young people have reflected on my husband's life and launched projects to carry forward his vision. While there is no funding for a grand memorial, they have created a remarkable digital museum online.
Today, both in Japan and around the world, young people are carrying on my husband's aspirations and nurturing the seeds he planted. Together with them, I will move forward, carrying on his will into the future.
I hope that the defendant will fully face the reality of his actions and properly atone for his crimes.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: Akie Abe via The Sankei Shimbun
