News Akie Abe meets Putin in Moscow

Akie Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday, according to a statement from the Kremlin. A photograph released by the Russian presidential office showed Putin presenting her with a large bouquet. Reflecting on his past interactions with Shinzo Abe, whom he met in person 27 times during Abe's tenure until 2020, Putin acknowledged Abe's role in strengthening Japan-Russia relations. He remarked that Abe had pursued the goal of signing a peace treaty between the two countries with great dedication and that they had made meaningful progress toward that aim. However, Putin noted that given the current circumstances, the issue would not be discussed further at this time.

Akie Abe told Putin, "I am not a politician and do not wish to address political matters. I will only say that Russia is a very important neighbor for Japan...even during this difficult period," according to the office. On Friday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said the government had not had any communication with Akie Abe regarding her meeting with Putin. "I am not in a position to comment," the top government spokesman said at a regular press conference in Tokyo.

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Ugh! Two utterly unpleasant characters meeting - I haven't forgotten her close involvement in that ultranationalist school Moritomo Gakuen.
And she's behaving in a strange way for someone who is 'not a politician': she's also met Trump and the leader of Taiwan recently. I hope this isn't an attempt to raise her profile and launch a political career. Abe was bad enough without him being resurrected in the form of his wife.

She's a complete mystery to me. Around 2013, she publicly opposed nuclear power; she was pro-LGBTQ, and even supported the revival of cannabis culture in Japan. Strategy or confusion, I, too, hope she won't run for office. Akie, paired with Sanae (Takaichi), would be a veritable right-wing horror duo.