“Ms. Takaichi, you know…” Controversy Erupts Over Prime Minister Takaichi’s “Hitchhiking Speech” on Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; Questions Arise About Her Relationship with First Lady Akie

Becoming Shin-chan’s Right-Hand Woman

Some have raised questions about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (65) drawing parallels between herself and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On July 11, Prime Minister Takaichi attended a memorial service for former Prime Minister Abe, who was shot and killed during a campaign rally for the July 2022 House of Councillors election. She cited former Prime Minister Abe’s achievements, such as the enactment of the security-related laws that enabled the limited exercise of the right to collective self-defense,

“Taking on challenges brings harsh criticism. As Prime Minister, I feel the weight of that responsibility every day,”

she confided. Drawing parallels with her own situation, she added,

“A country that does not take on challenges, no matter how much criticism it faces, has no future. I want to be a politician who fights, just like Prime Minister Abe,”

he declared forcefully.

Former Prime Minister Abe, who enjoyed overwhelming support primarily from conservative circles, boasted the longest tenure in Japanese history at 3,188 days before stepping down as prime minister in August 2020.After he was fatally shot, the hopes of the conservative base turned to Ms. Takaichi, and last October, she became the first female prime minister in Japan’s constitutional history.

“While many in the public view Prime Minister Takaichi as the successor to former Prime Minister Abe, some people close to him think, ‘That’s not right.’ In fact, former Prime Minister Abe’s assessment of her was rather mixed, and some even say harshly, ‘She’s just using him,’” said a political reporter for a national newspaper.

Toru Kenjo of Gentosha, who was a close friend of former Prime Minister Abe, stated on editor Atsusuke Minowa’s YouTube channel—which went live in June—

“Mr. Abe said before he passed away that he would never support her again,”

. The 2021 LDP presidential election came down to a runoff between former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Taro Kono, with Kishida emerging victorious. Ms. Takaichi put up a strong fight, finishing third in the first round of voting. Mr. Kenjo stated,

“Mr. Abe told Ms. Takaichi to ‘thank’ the people who supported him, those who endorsed him, and those he believed had voted for him. He told her to at least call them. But she did nothing. She’s not the kind of person who can do that. (Former Prime Minister Abe) saw that and said, ‘I will never support her again.’”

he revealed. He went on to describe Prime Minister Takaichi’s character, saying

“She’s the kind of person who wants to do everything herself. She’s someone who can’t communicate with others. She’s someone who takes everything on herself. However, she works hard to make up for that. And she’s someone who wants to make her own decisions,”

he analyzed.

Former Prime Minister Abe’s beloved wife, Akie (64), is also reluctant to speak about Prime Minister Takaichi.

Regarding Akie, who has supported her husband as First Lady, political commentator Harumi Arima said

“Although Akie was often called the ‘domestic opposition’ by the media, she would meet with people who opposed his policies and listened carefully to a wide range of opinions. When you become Prime Minister, the information you receive inevitably becomes biased. So, she reportedly said, ‘I’ll be Shin-chan’s ears,’ and conveyed various perspectives to him. Because she was that kind of person, she had the power to attract a diverse range of people,”

she revealed in an interview with this website.

She’s always by my side

Recently, Mrs. Akie has been hosting drinking parties with prominent figures from various fields through mutual acquaintances. According to a media insider who knows her,

“She’s apparently hooked on YouTube channels featuring urban legends and conspiracy theories, and she sometimes goes out for drinks with people from that scene. When the conversation turns to the late former Prime Minister Abe, she says, ‘I’m not sad at all.’ When asked what she meant, she reportedly replied in a serious tone, ‘Because he’s always by my side.’”

they said.

It’s said that the conversation sometimes turns to Prime Minister Takaichi as an extension of such casual talk, but the First Lady’s reaction is described as “ambiguous.”

“Akie-san just says, ‘Ms. Takaichi, huh…’ and refuses to discuss the matter in any depth. At that point, she apparently shifts the conversation to something like, ‘Let’s talk about something more interesting than that,’ and the topic turns to UFOs and aliens. Certainly, she must be grateful that the Prime Minister attended the memorial service, but…” (Same media source)

On June 8, an unveiling ceremony for a bronze statue of former Prime Minister Abe was held at Abe Shinzo Shrine in Anan Town, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture. Approximately 150 people, including Mrs. Akie Abe, attended the ceremony. The statue stands 175 centimeters tall—the same as his actual height—and depicts former Prime Minister Abe raising his right hand high. Prime Minister Takaichi sent the following message:

“Thank you for erecting a bronze statue of the late Prime Minister Abe, whom I deeply respect, on this auspicious day,”

.

The Takaichi administration faces a mountain of problems, including amendments to the Imperial House Law, measures to combat rising prices, and negative campaigning against rival camps. If former Prime Minister Abe were still alive, how would he have assessed this situation?