View CNN Fast Facts to learn more about Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister and the president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Father: Shintaro Abe, former Secretary General of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party)
Mother: Yoko Kishi
Marriage: Akie (Matsuzaki) Abe (1987-present)
Education: Seiki University, B. S. in Political Science, 1977. He also studied at the University of Southern California.
Other Facts:
He was Japan’s first prime minister born after WWII .
His grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, was Japan’s prime minister from 1957 to 1960.
Abe’s great uncle, Eisuke Sato, was prime minister from 1964 to 1972. Sato is also a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
In early 2013, Abe launched a grand experiment designed to jolt Japan’s economy out of decades of stagnation. Known as “ Abenomics,“ it included three so-called arrows: massive monetary stimulus, increased government spending and significant economic reforms.
Timeline:
1977-1979 – Travels to the United States to study politics at the University of Southern California.
1993 – Abe is elected to Japan’s House of Representatives.
1999 – Becomes director of the Committee on Health and Welfare and also director of the LDP’s Social Affairs Division.
2000-2003 – Is the deputy chief cabinet secretary of the LDP.
2005-2006 – Chief cabinet secretary of the LDP.
September 26,2006-September 25,2007 – Prime minister of Japan.
March 1,2007 – Abe sparks controversy by his claims that the foreign „comfort women“ who staffed Japanese military brothels during World War II were not coerced into the work.
