The hearse carrying former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's body arrived at his home in Tokyo on Saturday, local media reported. The hearse left a hospital in Nara early Saturday morning.

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe lies bleeding on the ground after being shot on July 8, 2022, in Nara during a street campaign speech. Photo: VCG

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, 67, died hours after being shot by a gunman on Friday, July 8, in western Japan's Nara, where he was making a campaign speech for the parliament's upper house election to be held on Sunday. 

Chinese observers described the assassination of Abe as the biggest political incident in Japanese politics since the end of World War II and warned about ripple effects from the death of this controversial figure, who once contributed to China-Japan relations but later tore those achievements apart. 

A doctor with the Nara Medical University Hospital said at a press conference that Abe died at 5:03 pm, Kyodo News reported. 

The attacker has been arrested and the case is under investigation. According to Japanese media reports, the suspect is a 41-year-old man and the motive for the attack remains unclear. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, commenting on the attack of Abe and his death, said China was shocked by the attack. Abe once made contributions to improving Japan's ties with China and we extend condolences to his family, Zhao said. 

Photo: CFP

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday sent a message of condolences to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the "sudden and unfortune" passing of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name, and expressed sympathies to Abe's family. 

Former Japanese prime minister Abe, 67, died hours after being shot by a gunman on Friday in Japan's Nara, where he was making a campaign speech.  

Chinese President Xi pointed out that Abe made efforts to improve China-Japan relations when he was in office and contributed positively to this endeavor. Xi said he had reached important common understanding with Abe on building a China-Japan relationship that meets the need of the new era. 

Xi also noted that he deeply regrets Abe's sudden passing and stands ready to work with Prime Minister Kishida to continue to develop a China-Japan relationship of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation in accordance with the principles of the four China-Japan political documents. 

Also on Saturday, President Xi and Madame Peng Liyuan sent a message of condolences to former Prime Minister Abe's widow Akie Abe.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Friday that China extends its condolences and sympathies to the family of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks after a daily press briefing when asked to comment on reports that Abe was confirmed dead after being fatally shot by a gunman Friday.

The attack occurred as Abe, 67, delivered a speech in the western city of Nara while campaigning for Sunday's upper house election.

"China is shocked by the sudden incident. Abe once contributed to the improvement and development of China-Japan relations. We extend our condolences and sympathies to Abe's family," Zhao said.

Tokyo stocks closed fractionally higher Friday after early gains made on eased concerns over the U.S. Federal Reserve's aggressive rate hikes were largely erased by the news of the gun attack on ex-prime minister Shinzo Abe.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average edged up 26.66 points, or 0.10 percent, from Thursday to close the day at 26,517.19.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, gained 5.10 points, or 0.27 percent, to finish at 1,887.43.

Brokers here said the market mood was severely dented following news of Abe's shooting in the western city of Nara on Friday morning during a stump speech.

Abe, who was shot twice, was rushed to a hospital in Nara and was showing "no vital signs" of life.

Zhao Lijian Photo: VCG

China was shocked by the incident and is following the developments; China hopes that former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe will emerge from critical condition and recover as soon as possible. We would like to extend our sympathy to his family: FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian

At the ongoing G20 foreign ministers' meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed sympathy to Tokyo over the attack on former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Sputnik reported.

Fumio Kishida. Photo: Xinhua

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida called the attack barbaric, saying doctors are working very hard to save Shinzo Abe, and that he prayed that Abe will survive, AP reported.

Photo: VCG

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, 67, died hours after being shot by a gunman on July 8 in western Japan's Nara, where he was making a campaign speech for the parliament's upper house election to be held on Sunday. Analysts described Abe's assassination as the biggest political incident in Japanese politics since the end of World War Two. 

A doctor with the Nara Medical University Hospital said at a press conference that Abe died at 5:03 p.m, Kyodo News reported, hours after Abe was shot from the back and collapsed during his street speech, with blood on his shirt. 

The attacker has been arrested and the case is under investigation by the local police. According to Japanese media reports, the suspect is a 41-year-old man and the motive for the attack remains unclear.

After the announcement of Abe's death, Chinese Embassy in Japan also mourned Abe's passing and extended condolences to his family.

Before his death was announced, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian commented at a press briefing on Friday that Abe used to make contributions to improving Japan's ties with China.

Given the sensitive time of the incident right before election at Japanese parliament's upper house, the possibility cannot be ruled out the shooting was out of a political purpose. It could be the biggest political incident in post-WWII Japan, experts told the GT.

Photo: VCG

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe collapsed and showed no sign of life after being shot on Friday during a speech in the western city of Nara, local media reported.

A gunshot was heard on site and Abe was seen bleeding after he was shot from behind by an unidentified man with a gun, according to the police.

Abe, 67, was rushed to a nearby hospital and showed no vital signs, according to local police.

The police also said they captured the man and were questioning him.

Japan's top government spokesperson, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, confirmed that Abe was shot and his condition remained unknown.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Photo: IC

Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has been shot by an unidentified man during a stump speech in Nara, Kyodo News reported. He was unconscious after the attack.