Former Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe and His Message of “Hope”

Abstract

Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving prime minister of Japan, was assassinated on July 8, 2022, while delivering a campaign speech. As news of the violent event spread, many Japanese people as well as governments and citizens from around the world expressed their deepest sorrow and condolences. Abe’s charisma, his dynamic personality, and his extraordinary political talent give him an enduring place in the imagination of the Japanese public. Many in Japan are outraged at the cowardly and vicious act and its threat to free speech and the country’s democratic ideals. This paper examines several of Abe’s prominent speeches during his years as prime minster of Japan. Our focus will study how, and through which linguistic applications, Abe’s speeches have achieved a lasting influence on the general public and politicians in Japan. Utilizing both a speaker-oriented and a listener-oriented inclination, Abe is able to inspire and attain a reassuring contribution, both politically and personally, while conveying a message of “hope” in Japanese socio-economic society.