Photo/Illutration Former first lady Akie Abe enters Choanji temple for the memorial service of her slain husband and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8 in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture. (Masaru Komiyaji)

Mourners gathered at the site in Nara where former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was fatally shot three years ago on July 8 to lay flowers and offer prayers.

A voluntary organization consisting of members of the conservative movement's Nippon Kaigi Nara set up a floral memorial stand on July 6 with a photo of Abe in front of Kintetsu Railway Co.’s Yamato-Saidaiji Station. 

The memorial is sheltered by a tent and Abe's photo is not visible from the outside. 

Although the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Nara prefectural chapter set up a floral memorial last year, it decided to refrain this time since the anniversary coincides with the Upper House election campaign period and it did not want the gesture to be interpreted as a stunt to win votes.

“I spent the past three years feeling anxious about what will happen to Japan in the future,” said a 64-year-old woman from Nara who visited the site where Abe was assassinated while he was campaigning for an LDP candidate in an Upper House election.  

A 21-year-old university student who traveled from Kyoto said, “I came with the hope that this would be the last time a politician would die during an election.”

Meanwhile, a memorial service was held in Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where Abe’s grave stands.

Abe’s widow, Akie, 63, and his supporters attended the service held at the Choanji temple on July 8.

Akie told reporters afterward, “I have completed the memorial service on the occasion of three full years (after his death). I think it was good. Thank you very much.”

(This article was compiled from reports written by Koshin Mukai, Hayato Sakata, Yikai Zhou and Masayuki Shiraishi.)

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