Photo/Illutration Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, now a lawmaker of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, delivers a eulogy for slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a Lower House plenary session on Oct. 25. (Koichi Ueda)

Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda paid a heartfelt tribute to his "sworn political enemy," former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in a touching eulogy at a plenary session of the Lower House on Oct. 25.

"I wish we could have fought more in earnest, clashing with words and words, soul against soul, with sparks flying,” said Noda, who is now an opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker.

Abe was shot to death while campaigning in Nara on July 8 for the Upper House election.

Noda took the podium where he used to spar with his longtime political rival.

He said his most vivid memory was a one-on-one debate between party leaders in 2012.

Noda, then prime minister, faced off against Abe, who was the leader of the then opposition Liberal Democratic Party.

Noda announced the dissolution of the Lower House to Abe, which led to a general election that ended with the LDP's landslide victory and Abe's subsequent return to the prime minister's post.

“I will never forget the look of surprise on his face and the fierce verbal exchange that followed,” Noda said of the announcement. “Every moment with him was unforgettable.”

Noda described Abe as a sworn political enemy but recalled that “once he took his helmet off, he was a kind-hearted and considerate person.”

He revealed that he met secretly with then-Prime Minister Abe at his official residence in 2017 to discuss how to arrange the abdication of then-Emperor Akihito. Noda said he had hoped that he and Abe “would be able to have a discussion open-heartedly.”

Noda continued to speak while gazing at the empty seat on the LDP side where Abe used to sit. The seat was decorated with white carnations.

In the final part of his speech, Noda expressed his determination to continue sincere discussions at the Diet just as he did with Abe.  

"I’d like to continue to discuss with my colleagues at the chamber both the intense light you have radiated and the shadows that have stretched beyond it, until we have no more words.”

“It is because only words have the power to overcome the madness of violence that took your life unreasonably,” Noda said while shaking his clenched fist. The chamber erupted in applause.

Abe's widow, Akie, watched the plenary session from the spectators' gallery, holding a portrait of her late husband.

After Noda’s speech, she tearfully said, "I'm glad I asked Mr. Noda (to give the speech). My husband must be delighted.”

(This article was written by Kazutaka Kamizawa and Ryutaro Abe.)

Related News