VARANASI: Akie Abe, widow of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, became emotional while recalling her late husband’s deep connection with Varanasi as she jointly inaugurated the Shinzo Abe Memorial Corridor with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath at the Rudraksh Convention Centre on Wednesday.Akie thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Yogi and the people of India for dedicating the memorial to her husband, saying she was “deeply moved and grateful” by the gesture.Recalling Shinzo Abe’s 2015 visit to Varanasi with Modi, she said he had witnessed the Ganga Aarti and held the Ganga in great reverence. She said she had long wanted to visit Kashi herself and that the visit had fulfilled that wish.Akie also said that had Shinzo Abe been alive, he would have been delighted to see the memorial corridor and would have wanted to return to Varanasi.
Recalling Modi-Abe friendship
Yogi said the corridor symbolised the “unbreakable friendship, trust and shared heritage” between India and Japan. Recalling the bond between Modi and Abe, he said their friendship was built not on positions but on trust.Yogi said the Rudraksh Convention Centre itself was a symbol of India-Japan cooperation and recalled Abe’s contribution to strengthening bilateral ties.“In 2021, Abe received India’s second-highest civilian honour, Padma Vibhushan. In September 2022, PM Modi travelled to Tokyo to bid farewell to his friend, while India observed national mourning on Abe’s demise. This was not protocol, it was a relationship,” Yogi said.He said the memorial corridor would serve as a “living classroom” for younger generations to understand the contribution of the two leaders to India-Japan ties.
Kashi-Kyoto connection
Akie highlighted similarities between Varanasi and Kyoto, describing both as ancient cities that have preserved their cultural traditions. She also spoke about the significance of the 108 Rudraksh beads incorporated into the convention centre’s exterior.She noted that 108 also has significance in Japan, where Buddhist temple bells are traditionally rung 108 times on the last day of December, symbolising the 108 human afflictions.Yogi said India and Japan would mark 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2027, describing the memorial corridor as an early tribute to the milestone.He also highlighted growing Japanese investment in India, saying around 1,400 Japanese companies operate in the country. He said a 500-acre Japanese City was being developed near Noida International Airport and a Yamanashi Desk had been established at Invest UP to facilitate Japanese investment.The Rudraksh Convention Centre, built with Japanese assistance, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi in 2021. A photo gallery at the centre features images from Shinzo Abe’s December 2015 Varanasi visit, when he accompanied Modi to witness the Ganga Aarti.
