Takaichi vows to keep pushing new challenges on 4th anniversary of Abe's death

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said she will "keep pursuing new challenges" in the spirit of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, at a memorial event marking the fourth anniversary of his assassination.

Takaichi attended a gathering in Tokyo on Saturday titled "A Meeting to Carry on the Will of Former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo," according to NHK and other media outlets.

Takaichi, who regards Abe as her political mentor, said Abe "boldly took on issues that divided the nation, including the aggressive monetary easing of Abenomics and the partial exercise of the right to collective self-defense." She added, "Challenges always invite harsh criticism, and I feel the weight of that every day as prime minister."

She said that while moves such as abolishing the "five categories" restriction and establishing a national intelligence agency had drawn significant criticism, "we must keep pursuing new challenges," adding, "A country that refuses to take on challenges, no matter how much criticism it faces, has no future."

She went on to say she wants "to become a politician who fights like Prime Minister Abe."

The remarks were seen as Takaichi again making clear her intention to carry on Abe's conservative and security policy agenda.

Takaichi revised the three principles on the transfer of defense equipment — which had limited exportable defense hardware to five categories: search and rescue, transport, alert, surveillance and minesweeping — along with their operational guidelines, effectively allowing the export of lethal weapons in principle. She has also pushed to establish a national intelligence agency, often referred to as a "Japanese CIA."

On Wednesday, the fourth anniversary of Abe's death, Takaichi also posted a tribute on her X account, writing: "More than eight months have passed since I took office as prime minister, but every day — whether traveling abroad or meeting with foreign leaders who visit Japan — I am reminded of how great a legacy Prime Minister Abe left for Japan and its people."

Abe was shot and killed on July 8, 2022, in Nara city, Nara Prefecture, while delivering a campaign speech ahead of an upper house election. He was struck by a homemade firearm.