Four Years Since Former Prime Minister Abe Was Fatally Shot; English E-book Edition of "Abe Shinzo: A Memoir" Released

Chuo Koron Shinsha Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Junichi Abe) will release the e-book edition of "Abe Shinzo: A Memoir" (Author: Shinzo Abe / Interviewers: Goro Hashimoto, Hiroshi Oyama / Supervisor: Shigeru Kitamura) on July 8, 2026.

July 8 marks four years since former Prime Minister Abe was fatally shot. The hardcover edition of "Abe Shinzo: A Memoir," which includes previously unpublished interviews and was published in April 2023, has sold over 300,000 copies, and its e-book version continues to be downloaded around 100 times per month. While it has been translated and published in countries such as South Korea and Taiwan, the first English edition, "SHINZO ABE: A Memoir," will now be released as an e-book to coincide with the anniversary of former Prime Minister Abe's death. It will be distributed primarily on Amazon Kindle in Japan and also overseas, including the US.

Upon its publication in 2023, statements made in the book were reported sequentially by US media outlets such as Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. With the release of this English edition, we expect it to be widely read in English-speaking countries.

Cover of the English E-book Edition of "Abe Shinzo: A Memoir"

[Overview]

The authentic voice of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was tragically killed by a gunshot during an election speech on July 8, 2022. Why was the longest-serving administration in Japanese constitutional history realized? What he became convinced of after the abrupt collapse of his first term, his dealings with the US, China, and Russia, the bureaucracy that sought to bring down his administration, and his secret battles with opposing forces inside and outside the party... Confronting fluctuating approval ratings, he repeatedly took risks by dissolving the Diet and going to the polls, unafraid of headwinds, in his lonely struggle. This is a historical document in which he himself summarizes the entire behind-the-scenes story of how he reversed fortunes and continued to steer the nation.

Chapter 6, "On World Leaders," introduces numerous episodes.

An hour-and-a-half-long phone call with President Trump. President Putin, who welcomed Abe with his Akita dog "Yume." President Xi Jinping, who grew in confidence. German Chancellor Merkel, who prioritized China. Three British Prime Ministers: Cameron, May, and Johnson. It also includes secret stories with other foreign dignitaries.

The full record of a 36-hour unpublished interview that former Prime Minister Abe had once decided not to publish, deeming it too sensitive.

[Author]

Shinzo Abe (Abe Shinzō)

Born in Tokyo in 1954. After graduating from Seikei University's Faculty of Law with a degree in Political Science, he worked at Kobe Steel, Ltd., and then served as a secretary to his father, Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe, before being elected to the House of Representatives for the first time in 1993. He served as Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party in 2003 and Chief Cabinet Secretary (Third Koizumi Cabinet) in 2005. He became the 90th Prime Minister in 2006 but resigned in September of the following year due to his chronic ulcerative colitis. He made a comeback and became the 96th Prime Minister in December 2012. He subsequently won multiple national elections and was re-elected party president three times, establishing a stable, long-term administration known as "Abe Ichiyō" (Abe's Unrivaled Strength). His continuous tenure of 2,822 days until his resignation in September 2020 due to the worsening of his chronic illness, and his total tenure of 3,188 days including his first term, are both the longest in Japanese history, including the pre-war period. Following his second cabinet, he promoted the economic policy "Abenomics," advocating for an end to deflation. In July 2014, he altered the constitutional interpretation, and in September 2015, he enacted security-related laws that enabled the exercise of limited collective self-defense. In foreign relations, he dedicated himself to summit diplomacy, advocating for "Global Diplomacy" and a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific." He laid the foundation for cooperation with Western countries, which is essential for Japan's current security, including strengthening the Japan-US alliance and the Quad framework (Japan, US, Australia, India). He was shot and killed on July 8, 2022, while giving a street speech for the Upper House election in Nara City. He was 67 years old.

Interviewer: Goro Hashimoto (Hashimoto Gorō)

Born in Akita Prefecture in 1946. Special Editorial Writer for The Yomiuri Shimbun. Graduated from Keio University's Faculty of Law with a degree in Political Science. Served as a member of The Yomiuri Shimbun's editorial board, political editor, and deputy managing editor. Assumed his current position in 2006. Appeared on Nippon TV's "Sukkiri," Yomiuri TV's "Information Live Miyane-ya," and "Wake Up." His major works include "The Makings of a Prime Minister" and "The Resolve of a Prime Minister" (both Chuko Shinsho La Cle), "Lessons from History," "Living by Fate, Challenging Destiny," and "Reading 'Two and a Half Times'" (all Fujiwara Shoten). Received the 2014 Japan National Press Club Award.

Interviewer and Compiler: Hiroshi Oyama (Ōyama Hiroshi)

Born in Tokyo in 1966. Deputy Chief Editorial Writer for The Yomiuri Shimbun. Graduated from Waseda University's Faculty of Law. Joined The Yomiuri Shimbun in 1992. Served as deputy chief of the political department, editorial writer, and editorial committee member. Assumed his current position in 2022. He has been covering Shinzo Abe since August 2002, when he became responsible for then-Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe. His major co-authored works include "Shinzo Abe: The 300 Days of Reversal and Revival" and "Abe Cabinet vs. Xi Jinping" (both Shinchosha), "Security Legislation" (Shinzan-sha), and "Political Words That Move the Times" (Toshindo).

Supervisor: Shigeru Kitamura (Kitamura Shigeru)

Born in Tokyo in 1956. Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yomiuri Research Institute for International Economics. Auditor of Nippon TV Holdings Inc. and Nippon Television Network Corporation. After graduating from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Law, he joined the National Police Agency in April 1980. Served as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister in September 2006, Director of the Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office in December 2012, and Director of the National Security Bureau and Special Advisor to the Cabinet in September 2019 (all under the Abe administration). Received the Secretary of Defense Medal of Meritorious Civilian Service from the US government in December 2020. His works include "Information and the State" and "Economic Security" (both Chuo Koron Shinsha).

[Bibliographic Information / English E-book Edition]

Book Title: "SHINZO ABE: A Memoir"

Author: Shinzo Abe / Interviewers: Goro Hashimoto / Interviewer and Compiler: Hiroshi Oyama / Supervisor: Shigeru Kitamura

ISBN: 978-4-12-519467-7 / Release Date: July 8, 2026

Suggested Retail Price: $20.99

Suggested Retail Price (Domestic): 3,500 yen (excluding tax)

[Bibliographic Information / Hardcover (Japanese Edition)]

Book Title: "Abe Shinzo: A Memoir"

Author: Shinzo Abe / Interviewers: Goro Hashimoto / Interviewer and Compiler: Hiroshi Oyama / Supervisor: Shigeru Kitamura

Format: 46-size / Number of Pages: 480 pages

ISBN: 978-4-12-005634-5 / Release Date: February 28, 2023

Price: 2,420 yen (10% tax included)

*E-book ISBN: 978-4-12-518264-3

[Audiobook]

Release Date: June 19, 2026 / Narrator: Moriyuki Hishida

Language: Japanese

Playback Time: 13 hours 19 minutes / Production: Chuo Koron Shinsha

Suggested Retail Price: 3,500 yen (10% tax included)

*Distributed on Amazon Audible, Otobank, and Apple Books

Related Books on Amazon Feature Page