Photo credit: Shutterstock.com | WASHINGTON D.C., USA - Mar 31, 2016: Nuclear Security Summit. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomes the participants and guests of the summit
Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) joins Japan and the world in mourning the tragic loss of Prime Minister ABE Shinzo, the longest serving Prime Minister in modern Japanese history.
Not only was ABE a friend to America, ABE was also an ambassador of the extended National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) network and a champion of the work of Japan-America Societies both in the U.S. and Japan.
In 2020, he was named Honorary President of our sister organization The America-Japan Society, Inc. in Tokyo. At the time of his appointment, Prime Minister Abe noted:
“In order to elevate the [U.S.-Japan] relationship to an ‘alliance of hope,’ it is imperative to enhance people-to-people exchanges at the grassroots level.”
We also recall ABE’s words from his 2015 address to a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress.
“Let us call the U.S.-Japan alliance, an alliance of hope. Let the two of us, America and Japan, join our hands together and do our best to make the world a better, a much better, place to live.”
The world has lost a dedicated leader and the United States has lost a trusted partner.
Our prayers are with ABE Akie, the ABE family and all of Japan.