Shinzō Abe

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Japan’s economy shrinks 28% in 2Q, worse than 1st estimate

By YURI KAGEYAMA - Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2015, file photo, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo after the release of an online video that purported to show an Islamic State group militant beheading Japanese journalist Kenji Goto. Suga, a longtime loyal assistant and the public face of outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in daily media briefings, has emerged as a favorite to succeed him in an upcoming internal party vote. Suga is set to announce his candidacy and key policies later Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Abe’s assistant and spokesman seen as favorite successor

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Sept. 11, 2019, file photo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo. Japan’s top government spokesman Suga, a longtime right-hand man for the outgoing Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has emerged as a top successor candidate Tuesday, Sept. 1, as party executives met to decide logistics of a party presidential election expected in mid-September. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Who’s next? Abe’s party maneuvers to pick Japan’s next PM

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wearing a face mask, arrives at Prime Minister's office in Tokyo, Monday, Aug. 31, 2020. Japan's longest-serving prime minister, Abe, said Friday, he is stepping down because a chronic health problem has resurfaced.(AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)

Yoshihide Suga, Fumio Kishida, Shigeru Ishiba emerge as potential Shinzo Abe successors

By Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

In this Sept. 12, 2007, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe leaves the podium after announcing his resignation at a nationally televised press conference in Tokyo. Prime Minister Abe said Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, he will step down due to his health. (AP Photo/David Guttenfelder, File)

Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe says he’s resigning for health reasons

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

In this May 4, 2020, file photo, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at his official residence in Tokyo. Japan’s NHK and other media say Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, that Abe has expressed his intention to step down, citing his health. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool, File)

Shinzo Abe, Japan Prime Minister, o step down due to health: Reports

Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 21, 2016, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears as the Nintendo game character Super Mario during the closing ceremony at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Abe was a star of the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, parading before a 70,000 sellout at the Maracana stadium as Nintendo game character Super Mario. It was Abe's humorous invitation to the next Olympics in Tokyo. (Yu Nakajima/Kyodo News via AP, File)

Shinzo Abe — aka ‘Super Mario’ — loses out on Olympics

By STEPHEN WADE - Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center right, arrives at Keio University Hospital in Tokyo Monday, Aug. 24, 2020. Prime Minister Abe on Monday became Japan's longest-serving leader in terms of consecutive days in office, but there was little fanfare, as he visited a hospital for another health checkup amid concerns about his health.(Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s PM sets mark for days in office amid health concerns

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

FILE - In this Aug. 6, 2020, file photo, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe walks off after delivering a speech during a ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary of the bombing at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, in Hiroshima, western Japan. Abe went to a hospital Monday, Aug. 17, for what Japanese media reported was a regular checkup, although the visit regenerated ongoing worries about his health. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Japan’s leader visits hospital, raising health concerns

By YURI KAGEYAMA - Associated Press

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, left, talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister's office in Tokyo Monday, July 6, 2020. Gov. Koike, who won her second term to head the Japanese capital in Sunday's election, met with her political rival, Prime Minister Abe and agreed to cooperate in their effort to fight against the coronavirus and to safely achieve the Olympics next year. (Yoshitaka Sugawara/Kyodo News via AP)

Tokyo governor, Abe say they’ll cooperate on virus, Olympics

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at the prime minister's official residence, Thursday, June 18, 2020, in Tokyo. Abe said Thursday that he regretted the arrest of his former justice minister and the minister's lawmaker wife over allegations they engaged in vote buying during last year's election, and that he takes the public criticism seriously. (Rodrigo Reyes Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

Japan PM to bolster defense after scrapping missile system

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks during an exclusive interview with The Associated Press at her office of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Tokyo Wednesday, June 17, 2020, ahead of a two-week campaigning for the election. A political go-getter, Koike even had the coronavirus crisis turn in her favor. And she repeatedly upstaged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by taking more proactive steps ahead of him, gaining public support. Timing is also on her side now, she is cruising to a certain victory in the July 5 election for her second term as head of the Japanese capital. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Tokyo gov seeks 2nd term, says Japan unprepared for pandemic

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Japan's former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai and his lawmaker wife Anri Kawai stand on stage at a political fundraising party in Hiroshima, western Japan, on Sept. 23, 2019. The couple was arrested Thursday, June 18, 2020, over allegations they engaged in vote buying during last year's election. Prosecutors arrested the couple on suspicion that they offered millions of yen in cash to dozens of voters ahead of the 2019 upper house election in which Anri Kawai won a seat, officials and media reports said. (Kyodo News via AP)

Japan’s ex-justice minister arrested in vote-buying case

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a meeting of government and ruling party officials at his office in Tokyo Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Japan’s Cabinet has approved a proposed 32 trillion-yen ($296 billion) supplementary budget to help fund measures to cushion the blow to the economy from the coronavirus pandemic. (Kyodo News via AP)

Shinzo Abe, Japanese prime minister, sees lowest approval rating in 2 years amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Lauren Toms - The Washington Times

A woman walks in the empty Asakusa district Monday, April 13, 2020, in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency last week for Tokyo and some other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the coronavirus. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Many answer Abe’s ‘stay home’ call with reminder: They can’t

By MARI YAMAGUCHI - Associated Press

A statue of a Japanese Akita dog named &quot;Hachiko&quot; wearing a face mask is seen near Shibuya Station Wednesday, April 8, 2020, in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency on Tuesday for Tokyo and six other prefectures to ramp up defenses against the spread of the new coronavirus. Hachiko has waited for his owner University of Tokyo Prof. Eizaburo Ueno at the same place by the station every afternoon, expecting him to return home for nearly 11 years even after Ueno's death at work. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan’s state of emergency is no lockdown: What’s in it?

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Commuters ride a train Tuesday, April 7, 2020, in Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that he will declare a state of emergency for Tokyo and six other prefectures as early as Tuesday to bolster measures to fight the coronavirus, but that there will be no hard lockdowns. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Japan declares state of emergency, ramping up coronavirus battle

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

A man naps in a train Monday, April 6, 2020, in Tokyo. Reports say Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to declare an emergency in Tokyo and other cities Tuesday. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Shinzo Abe, Japan PM, to declare state of emergency as early as Tuesday

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

In this March 25, 2020, file, photo, officials light a lantern from the Olympic Flame at the end of a flame display ceremony in Iwaki, northern Japan. Before the Olympics were postponed, Japan looked like it had coronavirus infections contained, even as they spread in neighboring countries. Now that the games have been pushed to next year, Tokyo’s cases are spiking, and the city's governor is requesting that people stay home, even hinting at a possible lockdown. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Tokyo’s infection spike after Olympic delay sparks questions

By Mari Yamaguchi - Associated Press

Q&A: Tokyo Olympics move to 2021; countless questions remain

By STEPHEN WADE - Associated Press