Akie Abe Recounts Shinzo Abe’s Friendship With PM Modi During Tokyo Embassy Visit

Akie Abe, wife of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, visited the Indian Embassy in Tokyo earlier this week, where she reflected on her late husband’s close ties with India and his longstanding friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to official sources.

During her interaction with India’s Ambassador to Japan, Nagma M. Mallick, Akie Abe also spoke about her ongoing charitable work and initiatives focused on youth engagement. The visit was described by the embassy as a gesture highlighting the continued warmth in India–Japan relations, built significantly during Shinzo Abe’s tenure as Japan’s leader.

The Embassy of India in Tokyo shared details of the meeting on social media, noting that Shinzo Abe was regarded as one of India’s closest international partners. The embassy reiterated that his contributions played a key role in strengthening bilateral ties and advancing the India–Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership.

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Akie Abe reportedly recalled the personal rapport between Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, noting that their relationship extended beyond formal diplomacy. She highlighted moments of mutual respect and understanding between the two leaders, which she said were reflected in their frequent interactions and shared vision for stronger regional cooperation.

Shinzo Abe, who served as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister across two terms, was widely credited with deepening India–Japan relations, particularly in areas of defence cooperation, infrastructure development, and Indo-Pacific strategy. His relationship with PM Modi began during Modi’s tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat and later evolved into a strong diplomatic partnership at the national level.

Following Shinzo Abe’s assassination in 2022, Prime Minister Modi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of what he called one of his “dearest friends” and attended the state funeral in Tokyo. India also observed a day of national mourning in his honour, underscoring the significance of his role in shaping modern India–Japan relations.

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