Shinzo Abe was born on 21 September 1954. He is the grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi and son of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Shintaro Abe. He succeeded Junichiro Koizumi as president of the Liberal Democratic Party and prime minister of Japan in September 2006.

Nagasaki, Aug. 9 (Jiji Press)--Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue on Thursday reiterated the city's strong calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons while urging the Japanese government to boost its awareness that Japan is the only A-bombed nation in the world.

Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Hiroshima, Aug. 6 Kyodo - Citizens of Hiroshima and peace wishers from across Japan and abroad observed a minute of silence at 8:15 a.m. Monday to mark the 62nd anniversary of the US atomic bombing on Hiroshima towards the end of World War II.

By Hiroko Tabuchi, Associated Press TOKYO -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed Sunday to stay in office despite leading his scandal-stained ruling coalition to an unexpectedly severe and humiliating defeat in parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe led his scandal-stained ruling coalition to an unexpectedly severe defeat in parliamentary elections Sunday, a stunning reversal of fortune for a party that has controlled Japan virtually uninterrupted since 1955.