Latest news with #Akie
Asahi Shimbun
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
Putin offers warm welcome to teary Akie Abe in Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin brought Akie Abe, the widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to tears with his words as they met in Moscow on May 29. The Kremlin announced the meeting that day. During the meeting, Putin said that he is 'very grateful' to her late husband and will 'remember his contribution to the development of Russian-Japanese cooperation.' During Abe's tenure as prime minister, the two leaders held 27 summits. A portion of the meeting with Akie on May 29 was televised on Russia's state television, and Putin welcomed Abe's widow by giving her a bouquet of flowers. In the footage, Akie was seen shedding tears as she listened to Putin's words. According to the Russian state-run TASS news agency, Putin recommended that Akie see a ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, one of Russia's most famous theaters. He even allowed Akie to use his personal limousine to travel to the theater. The unusually favorable treatment can be seen as Putin's move aimed at improving relations with Japan. It is also believed that the charm offensive is intended to bring Japan closer to Russia, which is under severe economic sanctions from the United States and Europe. According to the TV footage and the Kremlin's official website, Putin noted that Shinzo Abe and his father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, had focused on diplomatic efforts with the former Soviet Union and Russia. Putin said: 'I know his dream--and he pursued it earnestly--was concluding a peace treaty between our nations. We made significant progress together on this path.' But he added, 'The current situation differs; we will not address that aspect today.' It is believed that Putin said that while keeping in mind that Japan had imposed sanctions in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In their conversation, Akie recalled Putin's visit to her husband's hometown of Yamaguchi Prefecture in December 2016 and said, 'The fact that (Shinzo) hosted you there demonstrates his particularly sincere attitude toward your country.' After prefacing that she is not a politician and does not wish to address political matters, Akie said that Russia is 'a very important neighbor' for Japan and that she hopes cultural exchanges continue. Abe focused intently on the disputed Japan-Russia Northern Territories negotiations and last met with Putin in September 2019. The former prime minister was shot and killed in July 2022 while giving a campaign speech in Nara, almost two years after resigning from office. At the time, Russia's full invasion of Ukraine had already begun and Putin did not attend Abe's state funeral in September that year in Tokyo. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on Akie's visit to Moscow at a news conference on May 30. 'The Japanese government has not had any correspondence with (Akie) and is not in a position to comment,' he said.
30-05-2025
- Politics
Putin Meets with Ex-Japan PM Abe's Widow in Moscow
News from Japan World May 30, 2025 10:22 (JST) Tokyo, May 30 (Jiji Press)--Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Akie Abe, the widow of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at the Kremlin in Moscow, the Russian presidential office has said. The meeting took place following an invitation from Russia, while Japan maintains its sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. In an English announcement on the session released Thursday, the presidential office quoted Putin as saying that the former prime minister "contributed greatly to the development of Russian-Japanese relations." "I had very warm personal relations with him," Putin told Akie, adding that he remembers visiting Japan in 2016 to attend a bilateral summit with Abe in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Abe's home turf. Akie said that although her late husband hoped to meet with Putin after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, he died before being able to do so. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
LPGA rookie bounces back after slow-play penalty in Utah to contend at Liberty National
LPGA rookie bounces back after slow-play penalty in Utah to contend at Liberty National One week after LPGA rookie Chisato Iwai received a two-stroke penalty for slow play, she's back in the mix at the rainy Mizuho Americas Open. Iwai carded a second-round 5-under 67 at Liberty National and currently sits in the top 10. Iwai, 22, was assessed the slow-play penalty during the second round of the Black Desert Championship, where she ultimately missed the cut by two. It marked the second second slow-penalty of the season after the tour released a new stricter Pace of Play Policy that went into effect in March. "At first I was really shocked, and it really did get to me," Iwai said through an interpreter. "But after the penalty was finalized I had time to talk about it with the team and it was a good learning experience moving forward." Iwai went on to say that she'd be more mindful of her time going forward. When asked if she'd ever considered herself to be a slow player, she said "absolutely not." Earlier this season at the T-Mobile Match Play, Hira Naveed was assessed a one-stroke penalty for slow play on the 16th hole. The penalty did not impact the outcome, however, as she had already lost the hole. Iwai, currently No. 44 in the Rolex Rankings, joined the tour at the same time as twin sister, Akie, who is ranked 22nd. Akie already has two runner-up finishes this season. Chisato is an eight-time winner on the JLPGA while Akie has won six times.
Japan Times
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Taiwan President Lai meets with Akie Abe, widow of slain prime minister
Taipei – Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has met with Akie Abe, wife of the late former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Taipei. Lai told Akie at the meeting Friday that Taiwan aims to protect the values of freedom and democracy, and deepen its friendship with Japan, inheriting the philosophy and spirit of the former Japanese leader, according to the Taiwanese presidential office. He also noted that Akie, who visited the United States last December, moved the Taiwanese people by speaking for Taiwan over the Taiwan Strait issue. Taiwan is ready to make contributions to world and regional peace and prosperity in cooperation with Japan, the United States and others, Lai added. Also on Friday, Akie delivered a speech at a meeting of the Halifax International Security Forum held in the Taiwanese capital. Citing her husband's remark that a crisis in Taiwan is a crisis in Japan, Akie said that he had wished for peace in this region more than anyone else. Lai visited Japan in 2022, when he was vice president of Taiwan, to attend the former prime minister's funeral. Akie took part in Lai's presidential inauguration ceremony in May 2024.
