Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe dead at 67

[Marcus H.]

Former PM Abe might have come from the bloodline of someone who had done atrocities in the past and he himself had denied the wrongdoings of his nation during WWII, but his death is not only undeserving but also potentially dangerous due to the ripples it could cause throughout the political scene. Also, history has shown how assassinations like this tend to promote others to do the same.

We won't be hearing the last of this incident for a while, that's for sure.

[Guardian Enzo]

Abe was in bed with a number of shady religious groups that fund the nationalist right-wing faction of the LDP which Abe headed (as well as with the yakuza and innumerable high-level financial criminals). It seems the assassin has a particular dislike for one of these groups and targeted Abe because of that, most likely.

[Yu Ominae]

Abe's body is in a coffin loaded in a hearse. Police are escorting Akie Abe and is given heavy security.

[Tactics]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

Former PM Abe might have come from the bloodline of someone who had done atrocities in the past and he himself had denied the wrongdoings of his nation during WWII, but his death is not only undeserving but also potentially dangerous due to the ripples it could cause throughout the political scene. Also, history has shown how assassinations like this tend to promote others to do the same.

We won't be hearing the last of this incident for a while, that's for sure.

Its ironic that after all the time the man known as "face of Japan", his final moment is not to be known for glory but known for raising series of big questions to: social (man dissatisfied with politics sneaked through SP and kill former PM thanks to training and internet), security (is Japan still safe, because copycats will coming) and politics (now Abe died what will you do, the rest of politicians?) aspect of Japan.

[Magin]

Did Abe deserve to die? No, I don't think so.

But I can say that I had a particular dislike for him once all the scandals came to the surface. On top of that, it's well-known that he still held a TON of influence and was arguably called Kingmaker. I'm definitely not happy about his death, but I also can't say I'm particularly sad either.

Really, the more crazy stuff is that the gun was completely home-made and how many bombs and other explosives were found at the guy's apartment. I would expect something like that in America, but NOT Japan.

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by Magin

I would expect something like that in America, but NOT Japan.

I said it back when the kyoani arson, WCS is that there is in japanese society deep discontent, as in, what we have seen is the peak of an iceberg. Japanese economy basically stagnated years ago and there is no solution in sight. This guy demonstrated that a lone wolf can be successful, any guess in how many disenfranchised lonely males in japan might wish to go in a flare of so called "glory"?

[Yu Ominae]

F*ck this.

I ran into some... interesting information that may jive with the shooter's claims that he targeted Abe because of his involvement with a certain religious group.

This is already cult talk.

[dragon1412]

Originally Posted by Magin

Did Abe deserve to die? No, I don't think so.

But I can say that I had a particular dislike for him once all the scandals came to the surface. On top of that, it's well-known that he still held a TON of influence and was arguably called Kingmaker. I'm definitely not happy about his death, but I also can't say I'm particularly sad either.

Really, the more crazy stuff is that the gun was completely home-made and how many bombs and other explosives were found at the guy's apartment. I would expect something like that in America, but NOT Japan.

Honestly, consider the man history effectively being of JMSDF, even without all the DIY browser, he’d be more than capable of pulling it off. It effectively something come with his profession.

Abe though, it’s definitely a weird case, he done some good diplomacy, but Abe is involved in a lot of scandal with corruption, he’s also definitely still held a lot of power. I have heard that a lot of Japanese don’t like him due to the corruption and bribery more than policy

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

F*ck this.

I ran into some... interesting information that may jive with the shooter's claims that he targeted Abe because of his involvement with a certain religious group.

This is already cult talk.

If the shooter thinks Abe was part of a satanic cult, than the shooter almost has to be J-anon affiliated.

//

[Yu Ominae]

From what I can tell, some people on Twitter are suggesting links to new religious groups as to why Abe was targeted.

Not J-Anon. Think Happy Science-ish groups.

[Cosmic Eagle]

Confirmed cult related. Per latest news. Some Twitter thread about inter-sect strife which the killer was part of. East Asia cults are wild....

[Key Board]

Originally Posted by Yu Ominae

From what I can tell, some people on Twitter are suggesting links to new religious groups as to why Abe was targeted.

Not J-Anon. Think Happy Science-ish groups.

They overlap!

edit: but well, if the killer assassinated Abe because of supposed ties to that group, than he's obviously not J-Anon or Happy Science

//

[Yu Ominae]

Originally Posted by Cosmic Eagle

Confirmed cult related. Per latest news. Some Twitter thread about inter-sect strife which the killer was part of. East Asia cults are wild....

I heard Nara Prefectural Police is unwilling to let that news be made pubilc.

Unless they did... which could be a bad thing.

[Marcus H.]

Are we in a fishing gear store, coz holy cow there be a lot of can of worms that can be opened at any time.

[Yu Ominae]

Better get ready.

Gendai Business made the news in Japan that the suspect’s mom is with the Unification Church and he’s angry with her donations that ruined their lives financially.

Nothing confirmed that suspect is with the Sanctuary Church. He did leave the UC though.

GB article said that people who worked in Nagatacho know of Abe’s good relations with UC.

[Guardian Enzo]

Much of Abe’s neo-fascist and racist LDP faction was funded by this group and other quasi-cultish religious organizations. Just some of the many unsavory types he was in bed with.

Ironically Abe was also fascinated with violence - which partly explains his obsession with trashing the pacifist postwar constitution (which was never supported by the majority of the Japanese public and earned him the lasting enmity of the Imperial family).

[MeoTwister5]

News outlets falsely link Hideo Kojima to Shinzo Abe assassination after racist 'joke'

This includes a far-right French politician. Ironic because Kojima is very anti-war and anti-violence

People are complete fucking idiots.

[mangamuscle]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Ironically Abe was also fascinated with violence - which partly explains his obsession with trashing the pacifist postwar constitution (which was never supported by the majority of the Japanese public and earned him the lasting enmity of the Imperial family).

I would rather say he was fascinated with imperialism, just another old man yearning for military conquests from the past. I would say leaders as "fascinated with violence" are the likes of putin or saudi arabia ruling prince, who torture and/or kill anyone deemed to be a nuisance to their rule.

I will now share my not popular opinion. While I do not condone homicide, in the long run this might be positive for japan, because the concentration of political power in just one man is the antithesis of democracy and does not benefit a nation (see russia, turkey venezuela, cuba, etc.).

[Guardian Enzo]

No, he was personally obsessed with violence. He loved violent movies and mused about directing them after he left politics, and he had a fascination with weapons. The imperialism and the war crimes denials and the flirtation with holocaust denial is all there but the violence thing is a weird, creepy quirk on top of it.

[Magin]

Originally Posted by mangamuscle

I will now share my not popular opinion. While I do not condone homicide, in the long run this might be positive for japan, because the concentration of political power in just one man is the antithesis of democracy and does not benefit a nation (see russia, turkey venezuela, cuba, etc.).

You and I share the same unpopular opinion then- this is one of the reasons why I hated how much influence Abe still had- while not a PM, he still was able to say some words about the postwar constitutional revision and people would listen. Or to be more concrete, he still talked a lot about getting rid of the pacifist part (I think), and that kept way too many people thinking about revising it. My opinion only, but that's not the kind of option Japan should even be considering about- many of us here have read about what Japan did in its Imperialist days. Though to be 100% fair, the situation with China and Taiwan may eventually change my views on this too.