Getty Images 3 months ago

TOKYO - AUGUST 15: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Yasukuni Shrine to pay his respects for the war dead on August 15, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Japan marks the 64th anniversary of the end of World War II today.

Getty Images 3 months ago

TOKYO - AUGUST 15: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visits Yasukuni Shrine to pay his respects for the war dead on August 15, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan. Japan marks the 64th anniversary of the end of World War II today.

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe speaks to the media as he leaves after visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo August 15, 2009, to mark the 64th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe leaves after visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo August 15, 2009, to mark the 64th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe leaves after visiting the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo August 15, 2009, to mark the 64th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two.

Getty Images 4 months ago

TOKYO - JULY 21: Former Prime Ministers Shinzo Abe (3rd L) and Yasuo Fukuda (4th L) and other members of the House of Representatives attend the plenary session at the lower house on July 21, 2009 in Tokyo, Japan.

Former prime ministers Shinzo Abe of Japan and Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad attend the 3rd Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh January 27, 2009.

Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech at the 3rd Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh January 27, 2009.

Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech at the 3rd Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh January 27, 2009.

Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech at the 3rd Global competitiveness Forum in Riyadh January 27, 2009.

Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivers a speech at the 3rd Global Competitiveness Forum in Riyadh January 27, 2009.

AP Photo 2 weeks ago

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, right, fomer Prime Ministers, Yasuo Fukuda, left, and Shinzo Abe, second from right, shout "Long live the emperor" as Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko make a public appearance for well-wishers during a special event to mark the 20th anniversary...

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Former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe (R) delivers a speech while attending the funeral of former finance minister Shoichi Nakagawa at a Tokyo temple on October 9, 2009.

Getty Images 4 months ago

Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso (R) walks behind his party leaders including former prime ministers Yoshiro Mori (L), Juichiro Koizuki (2nd L), and Shinzo Abe (bottom R) duirng a plenary session of the lower house at the Parliament in Tokyo on July 14, 2009.

AP Photo 4 months ago

FILE - In this June 7, 2007 file photo Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe, Canadian Premier Stephen Harper, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, U.S. President George Bush, British Premier Tony Blair, Italian President Romano Prod...

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani (R) meets Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Baghdad January 28, 2009.

Getty Images 10 months ago

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani (R) meets Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Baghdad January 28, 2009. About 614,000 Iraqi police, soldiers, prisoners and hospital workers voted in the first stage of the country's provincial election, the nation's first ballot since 2005.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (R) walks past lawmaker Taro Nakayama and former prime ministers Junichiro Koizumi (top L), Shinzo Abe (bottom L) and Yasuo Fukuda (bottom R) as he walks to his seat at a plenary session to vote on a second extra budget and related bills at the lower...