Japan Cabinet Secretariat on Abe's Health Rumors: "No Issues at All... Fully Committed to Duties"

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga explained on the 4th that there is "absolutely no problem" regarding the rumors about Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's health issues. This was in response to reports that Prime Minister Abe, who has been unable to take a long break due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic and successive urgent issues such as heavy rain disasters, is exhausted.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and others, Secretary Suga stated at the regular briefing that day regarding the rumors about Prime Minister Abe's health, "I see him every day, and he is calmly devoted to his duties."

Recently, within Japanese government circles, there have been talks that Prime Minister Abe is exhausted as he has been working continuously without holidays this year. People who attended meetings chaired by Abe commented that "his complexion was not good" and "he looked tired." Initially, he had considered spending summer vacation at a villa at the end of last month, but canceled it due to the spread of heavy rain damage.

Since June 18, the day after the regular Diet session closed this year, Abe has avoided formal press conferences and continued 'reclusive' work in his office, leading to speculation that his physical condition might not be good. The photo magazine "Flash," released on that day, also published an article reporting that Abe was known to have coughed up blood in his office at the official residence on the 6th of last month.

At the press conference that day, Secretary Suga did not clearly confirm the authenticity of the article but dismissed the rumors about Abe's health by saying "there is no problem."

Prime Minister Abe resigned about a year after becoming prime minister in September 2007 during his first term, citing a worsening of his chronic illness, ulcerative colitis. Later, when he challenged for a second term in 2012, health issues arose again, but he claimed to have been cured thanks to new medication.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.