1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:00,880 Speaker 1: this is a 2 00:00:00,880 --> 00:00:02,259 Speaker 2: C N A podcast. 3 00:00:05,940 --> 00:00:13,910 Speaker 2: Hello and welcome to CNN correspondent. This is the podcast 4 00:00:13,910 --> 00:00:16,690 Speaker 2: where our network of correspondents shine a light on stories 5 00:00:16,690 --> 00:00:19,820 Speaker 2: from wherever they are in the world from groundbreaking events 6 00:00:19,829 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 2: to up and coming trends. They're your eyes and ears 7 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:26,329 Speaker 2: around the globe bringing you behind and beyond the headlines, 8 00:00:26,340 --> 00:00:29,460 Speaker 2: examining issues, meeting people and exploring places. 9 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:30,260 Speaker 2: Mhm. 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:39,669 Speaker 2: On today's edition, we're in Japan with the shocking assassination 11 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: of a former prime minister, 12 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:44,550 Speaker 2: here's some breaking news coming out of Japan. 13 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,740 Speaker 2: We understand that Japanese broadcaster NHK says former Japanese Prime 14 00:00:48,740 --> 00:00:52,550 Speaker 2: Minister Shinzo Abe has reportedly collapsed in Nara in western 15 00:00:52,550 --> 00:00:56,780 Speaker 2: Japan and gunshots were heard in the vicinity. NHK says 16 00:00:56,790 --> 00:01:00,970 Speaker 2: Mr Abe was bleeding as he was campaigning around 11:30 a.m. 17 00:01:00,980 --> 00:01:03,060 Speaker 2: Local time, we also understand 18 00:01:03,210 --> 00:01:05,140 Speaker 2: that he has been sent to the hospital. 19 00:01:06,340 --> 00:01:09,250 Speaker 2: That was my Sienna colleague, Shahida Othman, breaking the news 20 00:01:09,250 --> 00:01:12,069 Speaker 2: just after 11 am on friday, the eighth of july, 21 00:01:12,390 --> 00:01:14,830 Speaker 2: it dominated the news cycle for that day and the 22 00:01:14,830 --> 00:01:17,660 Speaker 2: days that followed and playing an integral part of that 23 00:01:17,660 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 2: coverage was a long time Japan correspondent Miss Yoshida, who 24 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,860 Speaker 2: joins me now to talk us through events that day 25 00:01:23,870 --> 00:01:24,660 Speaker 2: and since, 26 00:01:25,350 --> 00:01:27,130 Speaker 2: thank you for your time today, it's great to have 27 00:01:27,130 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 2: you on, Thank 28 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:29,380 Speaker 1: you for having me. 29 00:01:30,340 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 2: So let's start at the beginning Then when you found 30 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,479 Speaker 2: out the news, what was your initial reaction? 31 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:38,510 Speaker 1: Well at that time I was watching tv news bulletin 32 00:01:38,510 --> 00:01:41,220 Speaker 1: of a private network and there were no signs of 33 00:01:41,220 --> 00:01:45,459 Speaker 1: breaking news, but then my editor called me and shouted 34 00:01:45,940 --> 00:01:47,260 Speaker 1: aber is shot 35 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,770 Speaker 1: now I was skeptical at first how could he be 36 00:01:50,770 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: shot because guns are not allowed in Japan unless you're 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:59,150 Speaker 1: licensed police officer or a member of the self defense force. 38 00:01:59,540 --> 00:02:03,980 Speaker 1: Anyway, I quickly switched to Japan's public broadcaster NHK and 39 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,140 Speaker 1: I was just flabbergasted. 40 00:02:06,540 --> 00:02:09,710 Speaker 1: I knew I had to quickly prepare to go live. 41 00:02:09,710 --> 00:02:11,899 Speaker 1: So this was my initial reaction. 42 00:02:12,740 --> 00:02:15,630 Speaker 2: Yeah, and like you say in Japan, firearms are not 43 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,020 Speaker 2: easily accessible and news that came in was also a 44 00:02:19,020 --> 00:02:21,550 Speaker 2: little bit vague. It was, he had collapsed. Sound of 45 00:02:21,550 --> 00:02:24,150 Speaker 2: gunfire had been heard, but they were being very cautious 46 00:02:24,150 --> 00:02:26,270 Speaker 2: about what information they were sort of relaying. Did it 47 00:02:26,270 --> 00:02:28,109 Speaker 2: make it harder for you to find out and what 48 00:02:28,110 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 2: was going on? 49 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,780 Speaker 1: Well, you know, it didn't take so much time until 50 00:02:31,790 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: broadcasters began to run the news and started to say 51 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,660 Speaker 1: that Mr Abe was under cardiopulmonary arrest. 52 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:45,130 Speaker 1: Wow! I mean I was shocked, I thought, wow, so 53 00:02:45,130 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: somebody did actually use the gun to shoot MR Ab 54 00:02:48,050 --> 00:02:51,650 Speaker 1: it was so shocking. I mean, I could never imagine 55 00:02:51,650 --> 00:02:54,269 Speaker 1: of anyone being shot like this in Japan except for 56 00:02:54,270 --> 00:02:58,250 Speaker 1: perhaps crime syndicate, but otherwise how, and you know, he 57 00:02:58,250 --> 00:03:02,750 Speaker 1: was in an election campaign and election campaign, there are 58 00:03:02,750 --> 00:03:06,310 Speaker 1: lots of people surrounding, but you never hear of serious 59 00:03:06,310 --> 00:03:11,050 Speaker 1: violent actions. So it was shocking indeed, 60 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:13,170 Speaker 2: and it's such an unusual thing to happen in Japan, 61 00:03:13,169 --> 00:03:15,390 Speaker 2: you must have known the scale that this was going 62 00:03:15,389 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 2: to entail and that you were going to be in 63 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:17,950 Speaker 2: for a very busy day. 64 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: Yes. Um yeah I knew but then my focus was 65 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,669 Speaker 1: all on what to deliver, what to talk about the 66 00:03:25,669 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: latest that's happening. I try to make sure that I 67 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:33,100 Speaker 1: didn't miss out on important news briefings announcements and I 68 00:03:33,100 --> 00:03:34,660 Speaker 1: tried to put my thoughts together. 69 00:03:34,740 --> 00:03:37,420 Speaker 1: I tried to give context to what Mr Abe was 70 00:03:37,420 --> 00:03:39,460 Speaker 1: doing at the site that he was in an upper 71 00:03:39,460 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 1: house election 72 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 1: campaign trying to support his LDP candidate and not a prefecture. 73 00:03:46,010 --> 00:03:49,790 Speaker 1: I was working alone just in my camera loan equipment. 74 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,780 Speaker 1: Um so it was tough juggling but you know, I 75 00:03:52,780 --> 00:03:57,410 Speaker 1: was focused, my adrenaline was running but when I heard 76 00:03:57,410 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: that he passed at 503 P. M. 77 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 1: Well I was indeed devastated. 78 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,060 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was really quite a using the word shot 79 00:04:06,060 --> 00:04:08,470 Speaker 2: quite a bit already so far in this podcast you 80 00:04:08,470 --> 00:04:10,660 Speaker 2: were on air I think for most of the day 81 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:13,370 Speaker 2: doing regular hits to give us up to speed as 82 00:04:13,370 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 2: information came through. What was the hardest part about this 83 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:17,339 Speaker 2: breaking news story. 84 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:22,659 Speaker 1: Mm Well one is trying to control my emotion 85 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:25,460 Speaker 1: because of the shocking incident 86 00:04:26,140 --> 00:04:29,130 Speaker 1: even now as I speak. You know, I'm recalling what 87 00:04:29,130 --> 00:04:32,140 Speaker 1: has happened in the day and still I feel emotional 88 00:04:32,140 --> 00:04:37,840 Speaker 1: about what's happened one Mr Abe's high profile figure, he 89 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:41,510 Speaker 1: was the longest serving prime minister, Everyone knows him. He's 90 00:04:41,510 --> 00:04:43,750 Speaker 1: like part of the Japan family. 91 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,029 Speaker 1: So it's like losing a family member, another is about 92 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:49,550 Speaker 1: guns being used. 93 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:53,750 Speaker 1: There are stabbing incidents in Japan. There are arsons in Japan, 94 00:04:53,750 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: but you know, gun incidents are so rare. For instance, 95 00:04:57,410 --> 00:05:01,690 Speaker 1: I looked up at the National Police Agency's website and 96 00:05:01,700 --> 00:05:05,229 Speaker 1: it shows that there were just 10 gun-related incidents in 97 00:05:05,230 --> 00:05:07,260 Speaker 1: Japan last year and 98 00:05:07,339 --> 00:05:10,859 Speaker 1: eight of them were involving crime syndicates. So that's how 99 00:05:10,860 --> 00:05:13,090 Speaker 1: rare gun incidents are in Japan. 100 00:05:13,339 --> 00:05:16,860 Speaker 1: So that was so shocking. So with all the shock, 101 00:05:16,860 --> 00:05:18,820 Speaker 1: you know, it was difficult for me to put my 102 00:05:18,830 --> 00:05:22,349 Speaker 1: thoughts together, but I had to keep on going throughout 103 00:05:22,350 --> 00:05:25,089 Speaker 1: the day, making sure that I had the latest and 104 00:05:25,089 --> 00:05:27,970 Speaker 1: making sure not only about MR Abe but about the 105 00:05:27,980 --> 00:05:29,450 Speaker 1: guy who shot Mr Abe. 106 00:05:29,740 --> 00:05:32,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, and those sort of details that emerged that the 107 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:33,430 Speaker 2: gun was a homemade 108 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: by the perpetrator. That his reasons for this horrible attack 109 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:40,870 Speaker 2: on Mr Abe wasn't a political motivation at all. It 110 00:05:40,870 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 2: was a very personal motivation. 111 00:05:42,350 --> 00:05:45,550 Speaker 1: Yes, indeed, that's what we've been hearing, he was telling 112 00:05:45,550 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: police according to reports that his mother 113 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,289 Speaker 1: was related to a religious sect. Well, the unification Church 114 00:05:53,290 --> 00:05:55,550 Speaker 1: actually came out to give a news conference. So we 115 00:05:55,550 --> 00:05:57,350 Speaker 1: know it's the unification Church 116 00:05:57,640 --> 00:06:03,010 Speaker 1: and apparently his mother was spending a lot on providing donations. 117 00:06:03,020 --> 00:06:08,510 Speaker 1: Um she inherited land from the grandfather and she actually 118 00:06:08,510 --> 00:06:12,850 Speaker 1: donated all the property to the religious organization. 119 00:06:13,140 --> 00:06:16,860 Speaker 1: So all these, you know, transpired in the background of 120 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:18,060 Speaker 1: this incident 121 00:06:18,140 --> 00:06:21,890 Speaker 1: Now, coming to light to the unification Church, are they 122 00:06:21,890 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: causing all these problems in society? You know, taking away donations. 123 00:06:27,770 --> 00:06:32,700 Speaker 1: So this has emerged and mr abs of course, relationship 124 00:06:32,710 --> 00:06:35,150 Speaker 1: to the church. Did he have any relationship? 125 00:06:35,339 --> 00:06:38,349 Speaker 1: We find out that he did give a video message 126 00:06:38,350 --> 00:06:40,860 Speaker 1: to the church on some kind of an event, 127 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,790 Speaker 1: but the church said that he was not a member 128 00:06:43,790 --> 00:06:47,820 Speaker 1: and neither was he holding any kind of an honorary 129 00:06:47,820 --> 00:06:49,460 Speaker 1: role with this church. 130 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 1: Another thing that's um coming up in media is that 131 00:06:53,770 --> 00:06:59,700 Speaker 1: there are relationships between religious organizations and politicians, because politicians 132 00:06:59,710 --> 00:07:03,250 Speaker 1: obviously want to attract voters and they need the vote. 133 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,260 Speaker 1: So how could they deal with this kind of situation 134 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:10,470 Speaker 1: of politics and religion sort of, mixing. 135 00:07:10,630 --> 00:07:12,940 Speaker 2: Yeah, it does raise a lot of questions to how 136 00:07:12,950 --> 00:07:16,100 Speaker 2: that operates in Japan. Coming up next on CNN correspondent, 137 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:18,650 Speaker 2: we'll talk about Shinzo Abe's last moments and how he'll 138 00:07:18,650 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 2: be remembered in Japan. 139 00:07:24,340 --> 00:07:28,340 Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Adrian Tan and I'm Christina 140 00:07:28,340 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 2: robert. We are the 141 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,170 Speaker 1: host of a new podcast called Working. We're here to 142 00:07:32,170 --> 00:07:34,620 Speaker 1: get into the essential things that no one tells you 143 00:07:34,620 --> 00:07:38,040 Speaker 1: about working in company culture. From office politics to dealing 144 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: with burnout. If you've ever 145 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,890 Speaker 2: wanted to eavesdrop on an interesting conversation by the water 146 00:07:42,890 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 1: cooler. This podcast 147 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:45,580 Speaker 2: is for you look 148 00:07:45,580 --> 00:07:47,060 Speaker 1: out for our episodes wherever 149 00:07:47,060 --> 00:07:49,660 Speaker 2: you get your podcast. 150 00:07:56,140 --> 00:07:59,890 Speaker 2: We're back with Yoshida for this edition of CNN correspondent Next, 151 00:07:59,890 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 2: I want to play a clip captured on a hand 152 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,220 Speaker 2: phone of Shinzo Abe's last moments before he got shot. 153 00:08:05,490 --> 00:08:07,100 Speaker 2: It's a bit hard to make out. So I'll talk 154 00:08:07,100 --> 00:08:07,650 Speaker 2: you through it. 155 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,180 Speaker 2: It starts with Mr Abe making a speech in Nara 156 00:08:11,190 --> 00:08:13,290 Speaker 2: in support of some of his party colleagues. 157 00:08:14,010 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 2: The abruptly stops talking and there's sounds of gunshots and commotion. 158 00:08:23,610 --> 00:08:28,750 Speaker 2: The next thing we see is a man being wrestled 159 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: to the ground 160 00:08:34,940 --> 00:08:44,660 Speaker 2: and we also hear lots of shouting. 161 00:08:47,640 --> 00:08:50,699 Speaker 2: So you've seen the clip several times. Is there any 162 00:08:50,700 --> 00:08:53,329 Speaker 2: way to know what's being said either by Mr Abe 163 00:08:53,340 --> 00:08:55,910 Speaker 2: of his last moments and then the shouting that we heard. 164 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,230 Speaker 1: Well obviously Mr Abe was making a speech to support 165 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: his LDP candidate, but you know, it's difficult to make 166 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:04,450 Speaker 1: out because the speech that we're hearing is in the 167 00:09:04,450 --> 00:09:05,610 Speaker 1: middle of a sentence, 168 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,870 Speaker 1: but we do know that he was there supporting kei sato, 169 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,239 Speaker 1: this was a competitive constituency. So actually, Mr Abbott was 170 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: not expected to be in not on this day, but 171 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,820 Speaker 1: he was expected to go to Nagano, but hearing the 172 00:09:18,820 --> 00:09:22,020 Speaker 1: previous day that the competition and not and that was tight, 173 00:09:22,030 --> 00:09:25,300 Speaker 1: he decided to change his schedule and ended up in 174 00:09:25,300 --> 00:09:26,750 Speaker 1: this tragic way. 175 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: Now towards the end of the video, we hear the 176 00:09:29,640 --> 00:09:34,140 Speaker 1: crowd shouting um chanting something similar, but it's also very 177 00:09:34,140 --> 00:09:37,400 Speaker 1: difficult to make out. Perhaps they were shouting a similar 178 00:09:37,400 --> 00:09:41,819 Speaker 1: name or maybe calling for help, such as doctors, but 179 00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:43,360 Speaker 1: it's very difficult to make out. 180 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:46,810 Speaker 2: Yeah, the good thing about everyone having a hand phone 181 00:09:46,809 --> 00:09:48,360 Speaker 2: is that a lot of this footage can get captured 182 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 2: and can be deciphered, but you know, it is taken 183 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,350 Speaker 2: in the heat of the moment circumstances. So it's not 184 00:09:53,350 --> 00:09:55,590 Speaker 2: always so easy to make out and get the big 185 00:09:55,590 --> 00:09:58,530 Speaker 2: picture of what has actually happened on the ground. You 186 00:09:58,530 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 2: mentioned about the upper house election as being the reason 187 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,650 Speaker 2: why Mr Abe was there giving this speech 188 00:10:04,940 --> 00:10:07,550 Speaker 2: that actually went ahead. I understand what was the mood 189 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,630 Speaker 2: on the ground of the day, the upper house election 190 00:10:09,630 --> 00:10:11,660 Speaker 2: as she went ahead, which he also covered. 191 00:10:12,340 --> 00:10:15,690 Speaker 1: Well, the day of the election, I was at the 192 00:10:15,700 --> 00:10:19,930 Speaker 1: balloting poll and speaking to some of the electorate, they 193 00:10:19,929 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: were saying that they were really shocked with Mr Abbas 194 00:10:22,650 --> 00:10:25,620 Speaker 1: incident and some of them were swayed to vote for 195 00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:28,890 Speaker 1: the LDP, even though they usually are not supporters of 196 00:10:28,890 --> 00:10:32,070 Speaker 1: the LDP, they felt that because of the incident, they 197 00:10:32,070 --> 00:10:34,950 Speaker 1: want to give their support to the LDP hoping that 198 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,050 Speaker 1: they will do good for the country. But what was 199 00:10:38,059 --> 00:10:40,980 Speaker 1: interesting for me was not voting day itself, but the 200 00:10:40,980 --> 00:10:44,929 Speaker 1: day before the last day of campaigning, when candidates resume 201 00:10:44,929 --> 00:10:50,070 Speaker 1: their campaign after Mr was shot, I saw that Cabinet 202 00:10:50,070 --> 00:10:52,859 Speaker 1: Ministers Security was stepped up, 203 00:10:53,070 --> 00:10:57,470 Speaker 1: there were more police officers than ever in Tokyo surrounding 204 00:10:57,470 --> 00:10:58,960 Speaker 1: the campaign trucks 205 00:10:59,140 --> 00:11:02,530 Speaker 1: and Mr Kishida was actually in the countryside rather than 206 00:11:02,530 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: in Tokyo giving his campaign speech to support candidates. But 207 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 1: I heard security around him was really stepped up, not 208 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: just that there were police officers, but they were searching 209 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,990 Speaker 1: bags of some of the people of the public and 210 00:11:16,990 --> 00:11:19,660 Speaker 1: they also had metal detectors 211 00:11:19,740 --> 00:11:22,689 Speaker 1: so they could go around and check and make sure 212 00:11:22,690 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: that the crowd was not carrying any weapons or ammunitions 213 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: or any dangerous that could possibly be a threat to 214 00:11:29,730 --> 00:11:34,140 Speaker 1: Mr Kishida and this has not happened ever before. 215 00:11:34,150 --> 00:11:36,660 Speaker 2: It's understandable that everyone would be on edge, 216 00:11:36,740 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: especially after what happened. But was it a surprise at 217 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,970 Speaker 2: all that it went ahead that the campaigning continued the 218 00:11:41,970 --> 00:11:43,110 Speaker 2: following day, That seems 219 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:46,200 Speaker 2: like a quite surprising thing happened considering the profile that 220 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:46,959 Speaker 2: Mr Abe has 221 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,160 Speaker 1: well, you know, I couldn't say yes or no, it 222 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:53,750 Speaker 1: was more like what is the government going to do? 223 00:11:53,750 --> 00:11:56,120 Speaker 1: And then Mr Kishida came out to say, okay, this 224 00:11:56,120 --> 00:12:00,110 Speaker 1: is a challenge towards our democracy. We cannot give in 225 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:03,750 Speaker 1: so we will go ahead and carry on with the election. 226 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:06,980 Speaker 1: So this was a decision and I guess some the 227 00:12:06,980 --> 00:12:07,950 Speaker 1: public supported it. 228 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,449 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's one of those things that could go either way, 229 00:12:10,450 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 2: but you understand his desire to keep things going and 230 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:15,920 Speaker 2: perhaps what he thinks Shinzo Abe himself may have wanted 231 00:12:15,920 --> 00:12:18,150 Speaker 2: to happen for it to carry on. There was quite 232 00:12:18,150 --> 00:12:20,400 Speaker 2: an outpouring of grief in the aftermath, give us a 233 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,890 Speaker 2: sense of what Abe's legacy and modern Japanese politics will 234 00:12:23,890 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: be 235 00:12:25,140 --> 00:12:30,809 Speaker 1: for one economics that's a similar tagline, other three arrows 236 00:12:30,820 --> 00:12:35,350 Speaker 1: and taking Japan out of deflation for instance, or in 237 00:12:35,350 --> 00:12:40,860 Speaker 1: terms of international affairs, the Tpp transpacific partnership agreement us 238 00:12:40,860 --> 00:12:43,460 Speaker 1: under donald trump, decided to pull out 239 00:12:43,940 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 1: and members were wondering, okay, what are we gonna do 240 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:49,490 Speaker 1: now without the U. S. The biggest economy. But Mr 241 00:12:49,490 --> 00:12:52,060 Speaker 1: Abbott took leadership and decided that 242 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,220 Speaker 1: it should go on and the C. P. T. P. P. 243 00:12:55,220 --> 00:12:59,300 Speaker 1: Was formed and the quad, the forming of a pact 244 00:12:59,309 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: between Japan us Australia and bringing in India to this framework. 245 00:13:04,450 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: And he also developed the idea of a free and 246 00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:09,750 Speaker 1: open indo pacific 247 00:13:09,940 --> 00:13:13,059 Speaker 1: and this idea has become a worldwide now. 248 00:13:13,140 --> 00:13:15,900 Speaker 1: So these are some of the big achievements of Mr 249 00:13:15,900 --> 00:13:16,699 Speaker 1: Shinzo Abe 250 00:13:16,900 --> 00:13:19,930 Speaker 2: and he's Japan's longest serving prime minister. As you mentioned earlier, 251 00:13:19,929 --> 00:13:22,329 Speaker 2: you've covered not just his career in the top job, 252 00:13:22,330 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 2: but perhaps before that as well. How will you remember him? 253 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,780 Speaker 1: Well, I do remember him for all these policies that 254 00:13:28,780 --> 00:13:32,069 Speaker 1: he put forward but to be on the soft side 255 00:13:32,070 --> 00:13:35,370 Speaker 1: of things. One of my best memories is when he 256 00:13:35,380 --> 00:13:39,429 Speaker 1: appeared at super Mario at the Rio de janeiro olympic games. 257 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,839 Speaker 1: I remember a video showed he was trying to rush 258 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:46,089 Speaker 1: to Rio de janeiro from Tokyo but reels on the 259 00:13:46,100 --> 00:13:47,750 Speaker 1: other side of the globe 260 00:13:47,840 --> 00:13:52,439 Speaker 1: and suddenly he transforms into super Mario travels underground and 261 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:56,000 Speaker 1: he suddenly pops up at the stadium in rio and 262 00:13:56,010 --> 00:13:59,330 Speaker 1: for a while after that he was called Mario but 263 00:13:59,340 --> 00:14:01,540 Speaker 1: I guess you know that would be the funny moment 264 00:14:01,540 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: that I remember Shinzo Abe. 265 00:14:03,940 --> 00:14:08,220 Speaker 2: Yeah he certainly is one for surprises with things like that. 266 00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:11,100 Speaker 2: There were some touching moments as well eulogies at the 267 00:14:11,100 --> 00:14:12,819 Speaker 2: funeral from Mr Abe's wife Akie 268 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,360 Speaker 2: and former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso 269 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:18,850 Speaker 2: could you just touch on a bit of what was said? 270 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:24,330 Speaker 1: Yes Mr Taro Aso and Mr Abe they were such 271 00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 1: good friends. Mr Russell touched upon playing golf with him 272 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,070 Speaker 1: and drinking with him but they also shared a lot 273 00:14:32,070 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: of sentiments together. Mr Russell said that in reality he 274 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:37,460 Speaker 1: was the one 275 00:14:37,740 --> 00:14:42,060 Speaker 1: who should have given an urology at Mr Mother's funeral 276 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:45,730 Speaker 1: but he will join Mr Abe soon and he will 277 00:14:45,740 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: share lots of talks on political affairs with Mr Abe 278 00:14:49,850 --> 00:14:50,460 Speaker 1: up there 279 00:14:50,940 --> 00:14:55,500 Speaker 1: and Mrs Aqui well we heard that before the casket 280 00:14:55,500 --> 00:15:00,360 Speaker 1: was closed. She touched Mr cheek 281 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: this is a very emotional moment and she said during 282 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:05,150 Speaker 1: the funeral that 283 00:15:05,540 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: this is still a dream and she couldn't really grasp 284 00:15:08,370 --> 00:15:13,260 Speaker 1: what was happening. So we really hope that Mrs Abe 285 00:15:13,270 --> 00:15:15,850 Speaker 1: will be able to overcome this and we'll be able 286 00:15:15,850 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: to move on. 287 00:15:17,260 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 1: This is the most shocking way you would lose a 288 00:15:19,440 --> 00:15:21,310 Speaker 1: husband being shot like this. 289 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,940 Speaker 2: Yeah it certainly is. Thank you so much for speaking 290 00:15:26,940 --> 00:15:29,150 Speaker 2: to us today. It's not a story you ever want 291 00:15:29,150 --> 00:15:30,850 Speaker 2: to happen or have to cover. but I'm glad we 292 00:15:30,850 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 2: got you on CNN correspondent to give our listeners a 293 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:36,340 Speaker 2: chance to hear about the story. But more details about 294 00:15:36,340 --> 00:15:38,729 Speaker 2: it and what goes on on the ground during events 295 00:15:38,730 --> 00:15:40,930 Speaker 2: like this when you're looking for information to be able 296 00:15:40,930 --> 00:15:41,160 Speaker 2: to 297 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:42,390 Speaker 2: feed to our audience 298 00:15:42,540 --> 00:15:44,810 Speaker 2: and as we try and keep our audience as informed 299 00:15:44,810 --> 00:15:47,530 Speaker 2: as possible about these significant moments. Thanks very much. 300 00:15:52,140 --> 00:15:56,890 Speaker 2: The tv version CNN correspondent airs on CNN every Wednesday 301 00:15:56,890 --> 00:15:59,500 Speaker 2: at 9:30 p.m. You can also catch up with it 302 00:15:59,510 --> 00:16:02,090 Speaker 2: whenever you like on CNN dot asia do like and 303 00:16:02,090 --> 00:16:04,380 Speaker 2: subscribe to this podcast version that takes you behind the 304 00:16:04,380 --> 00:16:07,000 Speaker 2: scenes with our correspondents. Thank you for listening to our 305 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:09,790 Speaker 2: podcast team is made up of daniel lee, Christina robert, 306 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,060 Speaker 2: Clara and me steve bye for now.