Abe's widow inaugurates memorial corridor in Varanasi honouring slain Japanese PM

The 'Shinzo Abe Memorial Corridor' was formally inaugurated at the Rudraksh Convention Centre in the holy city, marking a tribute to the Japanese statesman who was assassinated in July 2022. Akie Abe's emotional presence at the ceremony underscored the significance of the memorial, with the former first lady expressing visible gratification at the honour bestowed upon her husband's legacy.

The memorial corridor reflects the deep bilateral ties between India and Japan, two major Asian democracies with shared strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific region. Abe served as Japan's prime minister on two separate occasions and was a strong proponent of strengthening India-Japan relations during his tenure.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's participation in the inauguration highlighted the state government's commitment to recognizing international figures who have contributed to regional development and cooperation. Varanasi, the chief minister's parliamentary constituency and one of India's most significant cultural and spiritual centres, was chosen as the location for the memorial.

The corridor is expected to serve as a space for reflection on Abe's contributions to strengthening ties between India and Japan, as well as his broader vision for regional stability and economic cooperation in Asia.