Shinzo Abe Short biography
Shinzo Abe was a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. He was the longest-serving prime minister in Japanese history. Abe was born into a prominent political family in Tokyo and was the grandson of Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi. After graduating from Seikei University and briefly attending the University of Southern California, Abe was elected to the Japanese House of Representatives in the 1993 election. He was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary by Prime Minister Koizumi in 2005 before replacing him as prime minister and LDP president the following year.
Abe's premiership focused on economic recovery, constitutional reform, and a more assertive foreign policy. He initiated the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue during his first tenure as prime minister and advocated for a stronger military. Abe was also credited with helping to restore Japan's economy through his 'Abenomics' policies. However, he was also a controversial figure, facing criticism for his nationalism and historical revisionism. Abe resigned as prime minister in 2020 due to health problems. He was assassinated while delivering a campaign speech in Nara on July 8, 2022.
