Photo/Illutration Akie Abe pulls down a sign bearing the name of her husband, Shinzo, as his office in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is closed on Dec. 28. (Minako Yoshimoto)

SHIMONOSEKI, Yamaguchi Prefecture—Akie Abe closed the office here of her slain husband, Shinzo, on Dec. 28 in a solemn event that also touched on the topic of a possible successor to the former prime minister.

Akie and around 10 members of Shinzo’s support group were present for the occasion.

The sign bearing Abe’s name was taken down from the office, which had opened decades ago.

No ceremony was held for the closure, but Akio Ito, head of the support group, gave a speech.

“I am still heartbroken when I think about how the life of the former prime minister ended and Akie’s grief,” said Ito, 86.

“Abe’s office will be closed, but I would like to place my hopes in somebody who will take over Abe’s policies and run for a Diet seat here,” he added.

Abe, who was shot and killed in Nara in July this year, represented the Yamaguchi No. 4 single-seat constituency, which straddles Shimonoseki and Nagato cities.

His office in Nagato was also closed on Dec. 28.

Some local leaders initially expressed hope that Akie would run in a by-election, expected in April, for the Lower House seat.

It is common practice for a relative to “inherit” a constituency and support base if a family member retires or dies.

But Akie has long been firmly against entering politics.

And no other relative has stepped forward, perhaps signaling an end to the long hereditary line of political heavyweights in the Abe family.

The support group asked Shinji Yoshida, a 38-year-old member of the Shimonoseki city assembly, to run in the by-election, Ito said in his speech.

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