Dear Members of Japan America Society of Colorado,
Below we are sharing a statement released by our counterpart in Japan at the America-Japan Society of Tokyo, Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki. The former Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Shinzo Abe served as their Honorary President.
As an organization dedicated to people-to-people relationships between Colorado and Japan, our heartfelt sympathies go out to all those who mourn today. Gun violence is something we in Colorado are unfortunately familiar with and our thoughts are with our friends in Japan and our Japanese friends here in Colorado.
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Our Honorary President Mr. Shinzo Abe was shot on the 8th of July and lost his life. Of course, such a thing should never have happened.
He was the longest serving Prime Minister in the history of Japan. As Prime Minister, he strengthened Japan-US relations through national security legislation and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy. He was one of the greatest leaders in our postwar history. I have known him personally since when he was the private secretary to his father, Mr. Shintaro Abe, Foreign Minister.
Prime Minister and Mrs. Abe attended our centennial ceremony in 2017, where he gave remarks. We showed a short film on the history of our Society the conclusion of which cited Prime Minister Abe’s words “alliance of hope” from his earlier speech to the US Congress. Right after his resignation, we asked him to be our Honorary President and he willingly accepted. We filmed messages to our members. Our 17 interns visited him and individually asked questions.
Recently, on June 1st, he appeared at the podium of our seminar with Ambassador Emanuel, who also assumed the post of Honorary President. Both of them made strong remarks and engaged in a Q&A session. Answers were clear and to the point.
We all miss this shining star. May his soul rest peacefully in heaven.
Ichiro Fujisaki
President, The America-Japan Society Inc.
安倍名誉会長が７月８日選挙支援演説中狙撃され落命されました。
あってはならないことが起きてしまいました。
安倍総理は歴代最長期間、総理大臣を務めました。その間、安保法制、インド太平洋戦略などを通じ、日米関係強化に努め実績を残しました。戦後史に輝く大政治家でした。ご父君安倍晋太郎外相の秘書官をされていた頃から存じ上げでいました。
当協会との関係では、２０１７年の百周年にご夫妻で出席頂き、挨拶頂きました。その際上映した短いフィルムの締めくくりは、同総理の米議会での演説の「希望の同盟」のくだりとしました。
総理退任後すぐ名誉会長を引き受けて頂けないかとお願いしたところ快く引き受けて頂きました。会員へのビデオメッセージを撮らせて頂きました。またインターン１７名に会って頂き、一人一人から質問を受けて頂きました。
最近は、６月１日、同じく名誉会長に就任されたエマニュエル駐日米国大使と会員や全国から来られた日米協会関係者と質疑応答して頂きました。率直で力強い議論を展開されました。
安倍名誉会長のご冥福を心よりお祈りします。
一般社団法人日米協会
会長 藤崎一郎
