Akie Abe Visits Kaohsiung Baonguan Temple for the Fourth Time, Moved by 'Welcome Home'
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie Abe, made her fourth visit to Kaohsiung's Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple to lay flowers at Shinzo Abe's statue. She expressed being moved by the greeting 'Welcome home' and hopes to promote Japan-Taiwan exchanges.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 9, 2026 at 22:12
- 🔍 Collected: May 9, 2026 at 22:31 (19 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 9, 2026 at 23:35 (1h 3m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, 9th, reporter Chang Yi-lien) Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie Abe, made her fourth visit to Kaohsiung's Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple today to lay flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue. Akie Abe stated that she was moved by the phrase 'Welcome home' at the scene and hopes that Japan-Taiwan relations will continue to improve, pledging to do her best to promote exchanges.
Akie Abe and her delegation of about 70 people visited Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung City today. This time, journalists Kazuhiko Inoue, writer Hitomi Shirakoma, and others accompanied her. The group arrived at Baonguan Temple by car around 4:50 PM.
Akie Abe and others, accompanied by Frank Hsieh, head of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, Kuan Bi-ling, Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, Chen Chi-mai, Kaohsiung Mayor, Kang Yu-cheng, Kaohsiung City Council Speaker, and several public representatives, laid flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue. During the process, Akie Abe's eyes reddened, and many people at the scene also frequently wiped away tears. After the event, the temple hosted a 'banquet' with Taiwanese characteristics.
Akie Abe thanked the Taiwanese people for their friendship towards Shinzo Abe during her speech, saying that 'their gratitude to him deeply moved her.' She was also deeply touched when someone at the scene told her 'Welcome home.'
She said this was her fourth visit to Baonguan Temple to lay flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue, noting that there are no similar statues in Japan, so she is always deeply moved when she sees the statue at Baonguan Temple. Although Shinzo Abe has passed away, she believes his spirit is still with everyone and that she will bring more people to Baonguan Temple in the future.
Akie Abe stated that she hopes relations between Taiwan and Japan will continue to improve, and she will do her utmost to promote exchanges. She also mentioned visiting Wusanto Reservoir yesterday to commemorate Yoichi Hatta on the 84th anniversary of his passing, noting that 'many Japanese do not know about such a ceremony.' She will make sure more Japanese people know about this ceremony upon her return to Japan.
Frank Hsieh stated that during his more than 8 years as Taiwan's representative in Japan, his tenure overlapped with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's for 6 years, and he deeply understood Shinzo Abe's goodwill and friendliness towards Taiwan. He added that 'Abe was the friendliest Prime Minister to Taiwan in history,' and this statue is a testament to the Taiwanese people's gratitude and remembrance of Abe. He then gave a fluent speech in Japanese, to which Akie Abe frequently nodded and applauded in response.
Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple Committee Chairman Chang Chi-hsiung mentioned that although Baonguan Temple is a small temple, many Japanese friends come daily to pay respects to Shinzo Abe's statue, emphasizing that 'Taiwan and Japan are one family.' He hopes Baonguan Temple will become a warm rest stop where many Japanese friends can come to Taiwan for sightseeing, have tea, rest their feet, remember Abe, and create beautiful memories. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150509
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.
(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, 9th, reporter Chang Yi-lien) Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife, Akie Abe, made her fourth visit to Kaohsiung's Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple today to lay flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue. Akie Abe stated that she was moved by the phrase 'Welcome home' at the scene and hopes that Japan-Taiwan relations will continue to improve, pledging to do her best to promote exchanges.
Akie Abe and her delegation of about 70 people visited Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple in Fengshan District, Kaohsiung City today. This time, journalists Kazuhiko Inoue, writer Hitomi Shirakoma, and others accompanied her. The group arrived at Baonguan Temple by car around 4:50 PM.
Akie Abe and others, accompanied by Frank Hsieh, head of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, Kuan Bi-ling, Minister of the Ocean Affairs Council, Chen Chi-mai, Kaohsiung Mayor, Kang Yu-cheng, Kaohsiung City Council Speaker, and several public representatives, laid flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue. During the process, Akie Abe's eyes reddened, and many people at the scene also frequently wiped away tears. After the event, the temple hosted a 'banquet' with Taiwanese characteristics.
Akie Abe thanked the Taiwanese people for their friendship towards Shinzo Abe during her speech, saying that 'their gratitude to him deeply moved her.' She was also deeply touched when someone at the scene told her 'Welcome home.'
She said this was her fourth visit to Baonguan Temple to lay flowers at Shinzo Abe's bronze statue, noting that there are no similar statues in Japan, so she is always deeply moved when she sees the statue at Baonguan Temple. Although Shinzo Abe has passed away, she believes his spirit is still with everyone and that she will bring more people to Baonguan Temple in the future.
Akie Abe stated that she hopes relations between Taiwan and Japan will continue to improve, and she will do her utmost to promote exchanges. She also mentioned visiting Wusanto Reservoir yesterday to commemorate Yoichi Hatta on the 84th anniversary of his passing, noting that 'many Japanese do not know about such a ceremony.' She will make sure more Japanese people know about this ceremony upon her return to Japan.
Frank Hsieh stated that during his more than 8 years as Taiwan's representative in Japan, his tenure overlapped with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's for 6 years, and he deeply understood Shinzo Abe's goodwill and friendliness towards Taiwan. He added that 'Abe was the friendliest Prime Minister to Taiwan in history,' and this statue is a testament to the Taiwanese people's gratitude and remembrance of Abe. He then gave a fluent speech in Japanese, to which Akie Abe frequently nodded and applauded in response.
Hongmao Harbor Baonguan Temple Committee Chairman Chang Chi-hsiung mentioned that although Baonguan Temple is a small temple, many Japanese friends come daily to pay respects to Shinzo Abe's statue, emphasizing that 'Taiwan and Japan are one family.' He hopes Baonguan Temple will become a warm rest stop where many Japanese friends can come to Taiwan for sightseeing, have tea, rest their feet, remember Abe, and create beautiful memories. (Editor: Wu Su-jou) 1150509
Stand with facts, your every sponsorship is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.