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First Move with Julia Chatterley
White House: "Shocked and Saddened" by Violent Attack; He was shot while Making a Speech on the Campaign Trail in Nara; Police Arrested 41- Year-Old man in Connection with the Shooting; U.S. Added 372,000 Jobs in June, Beating Estimates of 272,000; Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Assassinated. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired July 08, 2022 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[09:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JULIA CHATTERLEY, CNN HOST, FIRST MOVE: You're watching CNN. I'm Julia Chatterley in New York. Japan is in mourning after the tragic assassination
of Shinzo Abe who was shot while making a campaign speech in the City of Nara. We should warn you what you're about to see is disturbing.
The 67-year-old Former Prime Minister suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and neck collapsing on the street. Doctors treating him said Abe's heart
had stopped by the time he reached the hospital. The suspect was quickly wrestled to the ground close to where Abe was standing.
Police then arrested the man who is believed to be in his 40s on suspicion of attempted murder. In the last few hours they have named him as Yamagami
Tetsuya and have raided his apartment he appeared to have used a handmade weapon in the attack. Will Ripley joins us on this. Will, huge questions
about just what happened here in the motive? What more do we know at this stage?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there yes, there are so many questions. How did this this suspect 41 years old, learn to
assemble and then deploy not just one homemade weapon, but there were actually several homemade weapons that police said they discovered pistol
like items confiscated during a raid of the suspects home.
Tetsuya - Yamagani Tetsuya is being investigated now as a suspect in this case, according to Nara police. He, you know, again, 41 years old
unemployed, and apparently holds hatred towards a certain group that he believes Abe is somehow related to police said that without giving further
details.
There are about 20 police officers were dedicated to working this case. And this will have sweeping implications Julia for Japan societal changes,
perhaps, given that this is a country that had one gun related death in all of 2021 for a population of half the size of the United States.
And yet beyond the implications long term we also need to point out that Shinzo Abe was truly an extraordinary figure somebody who was at a larger
than life presence perhaps the most influential and well known Japanese politician in that country's history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (voice over): Japan's longest serving Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had big dreams of a Japanese comeback. A comeback marred by a series of
setbacks. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Abe's greatest achievement Japan spent billions only to see the games postponed by the Coronavirus pandemic, the
games were a cornerstone of Abe's plan to revive a struggling economy and transform Japan into a global destination.
Abe promised a brighter future, a future looking bleak after 2011's massive earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear meltdown. Abenomics was an
ambitious plan to overhaul Japan's economy with stimulus and reform. It led to record high government debt and failed to make a lasting dent in decades
of deflation.
Problems made worse by Japan's aging population and shrinking workforce. Abe also tried to strengthen Japan's military reinterpreting the nation's
pacifist constitution drafted after World War II. The move led to massive protests in the Japanese capital.
Abe's visit visits to a controversial war shrine angered his Asian neighbors. He was criticized for not making a new apology at the 70th
anniversary of World War II accused of trying to rewrite Japan's brutal war time passed.
Abe began fighting for more military power during his first time as Prime Minister in 2006. At 52 he became Japan's youngest post war leader
corruption scandals within his party caused Abe's popularity to plummet. He resigned a year later blaming health problems.
Abe had ambition and roots in a powerful political dynasty, two former prime ministers in his family reelected in 2012 Abe declared Japan is back.
He tried to raise Japan's profile on a global stage developing allies in Europe, India and Southeast Asia, trying to mend frosty relations with
China.
Abe made history in 2016, appearing alongside Former U.S. President Bush Michel Obama in Hiroshima and later Pearl Harbor.
[09:05:00]
RIPLEY (voice over): Abe was one of the first world leaders to form an alliance with Donald Trump taking the U.S. President out for a hamburger in
Tokyo. Shinzo Abe leaves behind Akie, known as a vibrant and popular First Lady and his wife have more than three decades.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: 90 police investigators working in this case, Julia. 90 police officers who are trying to pour over every detail here to figure out
exactly what happened? And you have an entire nation morning with Akie Abe, who I actually had the pleasure of meeting a number of years back.
She - you could tell really took pride in her role as the First Lady and took great pride in what her husband was trying to achieve these goals of a
much bigger and brighter future for Japan, a more assertive Japan regionally when it comes to their military involvement in rewriting the
constitution, all work that is now left unfinished. Julia,
CHATTERLEY: I mean, this was a man that had great ambition geopolitically, economically for the country revolutionized I think their stance on the
world stage and also how many leaders have a whole branch of economics named after the - and what we can debate the benefits or the drawbacks of
that, quite frankly, well.
But I want to draw on what you were just saying there. And I know you lived there for many years, too. And I think a lot of people that don't are never
been to Japan or understand the situation they're in and the safety and the community and the feel of the country to see something like this, I think
is deeply shocking.
It's considered one of the safest countries in the world. And I think that plays to how confused people will be seeing that weapon and trying to
understand what it was and why it was even necessary, given how strict the gun control rules and regulations are there?
RIPLEY: Yes, the sound that you heard echoing through the streets of the gunfire was, was the sound that probably many of the people that you see in
that video had never heard and didn't recognize, because it is frankly, so rare and unusual, other than to see it on the - in the movies.
Japan, you know, one gun related death in all of 2021 for a country, you know, roughly half the size and population of the United States. A country
that you know hasn't had a political assassination since 1960. This is an extraordinarily rare event.
And for it to happen not to you know, Warren - factions, gang members fighting each other over territory. But for it to happen to Shinzo Abe,
Prime Minister Abe, the Former Prime Minister, the longest serving Prime Minister in Japanese history, it will, undoubtedly, raise a lot of
questions at dinner tables across Japan.
You know, parents trying to explain to their children, how this could have happened? Why it happened? And frankly, those are questions that you're not
going to be able to answer that nobody really can answer as of yet.
Until they learn more about this 41 year old unemployed suspect who somehow managed to get the materials to cobble together this homemade gun. You
can't get a gun in Japan, unless you're a hunter without an extensive and time consuming background check.
Japan does not have a gun culture, that guns are not a part of life. And so for, for a weapon like that to take away when it perhaps the biggest voice
in Japanese politics that we've seen in our history in our modern history. It is it is stunning.
And what would be heartbreaking is if people no longer feel safe, as they walk the streets in any Japanese city at any hour of the day. I mean, this
is a nation where Julia, I've left my cell phone in a taxi there, the taxi driver came back and returned it.
You know, actually, you know, let the front desk of my apartments know that I left it in the back seat. If you leave your wallet somewhere, it's often
returned to the police with the money still in it. That's the kind of society that Japan is and so to have such a horrific graphic example of gun
violence, you know, a couple of days before a national election.
It is beyond shocking. And it's almost a numb feeling and something that's going to take a long time for anybody who's lived in Japan to wrap their
head around.
CHATTERLEY: Yes. Will, I think you are reflecting a nation in mourning, and that's what they're facing today. Thank you for your insights. Will Ripley
there!
Now the international response the White House sees it shocked and saddened by Abe's assassination and Secretary of State Antony Blinken praising the
Former Statesman as a "Leader with great vision who took U.S. Japan relations to new heights".
CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us now live. Jeremy, good to have you with us! And President Biden responding to this stunned outrage deeply saddened by
what he calls the loss of a friend.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. We've just gotten this statement from the U.S. President reacting to the shocking
assassination of the Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
[09:10:00]
DIAMOND: Of course Abe was Prime Minister while Biden was then Vice President during President Obama's second term. They overlapped during the
entirety of that second term. And the statement from the current President Joe Biden now saying, "I am stunned, outraged and deeply saddened by the
news that my friend Abe Shinzo, Former Prime Minister of Japan was shot and killed while campaigning" he calls this a tragedy for Japan and for all who
knew him.
He says I had the privilege to work closely with Prime Minister Abe. As Vice President I visited him in Tokyo and welcomed him to Washington. He
was a champion of the alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people.
The longest serving Japanese Prime Minister, his vision of a free and open Indo/Pacific will endure. Above all, he cared deeply about the Japanese
people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy.
While there are many details that we do not yet know, we know that the violent attacks are never acceptable, and that gun violence always leaves a
deep scar on the communities that are affected by it. He goes on to say that the U.S. stands with Japan in this moment of grief and he says that he
sends his deepest condolences to the family of the late Former Japanese Prime Minister.
Of course, Shinzo Abe was a towering figure in the international community. And here in the United States nearly every statement that we've seen so far
has referenced the fact that the Former Japanese Prime Minister during his time in office, the longest tenure of a Japanese Prime Minister in history,
you know, was so focused on the work of deepening and, you know, making that U.S. Japanese alliance, that much closer, something that President
Biden saw up close during his time as vice president.
And so the outpourings of grief and sympathy from the United States are reflecting that closeness of the partnership that Shinzo Abe brought in his
work with the United States
CHATTERLEY: CNN's Jeremy Diamond at the White House there sir thank you! Now the Chinese Embassy in Japan has also issued a statement it says
"Former Prime Minister Abe made contributions towards improving China Japan relations during his term, we express our condolences on his death and send
our sympathies to his family".
Selina Wang joins us on this. Selina of course, this was a leader that took a far more assertive stance with China compared to his predecessors. And
that, of course, reshaped relations for years to come a response here as you would expect, measured and very sympathetic.
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Julia and one of Shinzo Abe's lasting legacies is going to be how he paved the way for this more hawkish
stance towards China from Japan? And even after he stepped down as Prime Minister, experts tell me that behind the scenes, he was speaking with the
current Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, to make that more aggressive, more assertive security posture, especially when it came to China.
Now, when Abe was in leadership, this was one of the most difficult relationships for him the relationship between Japan and China, they were
incredibly frosty when he assumed his position. Because of the contested islands, the Senkaku - the dispute over that contested Island.
However, throughout his leadership, the relationship did not improve. In fact, critics would say they got significantly worse. And notable here is
that you had the sympathetic statement from the Foreign Ministry, but you have not heard directly from Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
That is in stark contrast to so many other global leaders that have rushed not only to express their condolences, but to call him a close personal
friend, which said so much about how Shinzo Abe was seen as this very deft political operator.
And this frosty relationship wasn't just among global leaders between Tokyo and Beijing it was also among the people in China. After this horrific news
there were many hostile comments from social media users in China so hostile that you even had the high profile Former Editor in Chief of a
state run paper posting on China's Twitter like Weibo site that let's put aside these political concerns, let's have humanity let's be compassionate,
I urge the Chinese people to have compassion about this great leader.
And another key legacy in relationship to trying to cope with this rising China Julia Was that enhanced relationship with the United States as you
just heard Jeremy talking about. He was able to not only cultivate deeper ties with Former President Obama but also with Trump.
Many other world leaders were not able to deal with the unpredictability, but Abe was able to have regular communications with Trump. He had
hamburgers with him. They played golf regularly. He was able to cultivate so many of these ties and also he was a big proponent of the Quad Alliance
as well and bolstering ties overall throughout the Asia Pacific, the Indo Pacific region as a way to deal with these growing anxieties about China.
But Julia, he was also very divisive in Japan because of his desire to boost Japan's military prowess he wanted to bring back national pride,
military prowess, economic leadership.
[09:15:00]
WANG: He wanted to revise Japan's pacifist constitution incredibly influential but also a divisive legacy here.
CHATTERLEY: Yes. And his bold policies like he tried to push through can be divisive, but to your point, and I think it's a very valid one, a tragedy
like this, and tragic circumstances transcend all of that and it's just a loss for his family and for his friends. And our hearts are with them.
Selina Wang thank you! OK, coming up, we continue our coverage of the death of the Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: And welcome back to our breaking news coverage of the assassination of Shinzo Abe the Former Prime Minister of Japan. Abe died
earlier today after being shot by a lone assailant in the City of Nara where he was campaigning ahead of this weekend's parliamentary elections.
Abe was the longest serving Japanese Prime Minister and his legacy includes an ambitious economic plan dubbed "Abenomics" intended to help put Japan
out of a spiral of slow growth and price deflation the legacy of "Abenomics" still being felt today its impact on the Japanese economy still
being debated.
Anna Stewart joins us now to take a look at this controversial in many ways Anna and incomplete in many other ways talk us through his impact because
oh boy, did this man have ambition?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: And he was asked you know very recently what he thought his legacy would be by "The Economist" in an interview and he said
"Abenomics". This is what he thinks he will be remembered for. In many ways, Julia the greatest sort of economic experiment we've seen in terms of
monetary policy.
And it was successful, at least for a few years in terms of drawing a line under deflation and stopping the sort of relentless depreciation of the
Yen. But did it work after the first few years hit kind of got mired in difficulty?
Essentially, the three arrows to "Abenomics" there was the monetary stimulus, there was increased government spending, and then there were the
structural reforms. And that last arrow, the third one was the one that many economists say they didn't quite complete them without the three of
them perhaps we never saw it at its most glorious.
The problem for Japan, of course, an aging demographic, which makes that very hard, he did achieve, of course getting 2 million women into the
workforce. That was something he was very proud about and spoke about at length at Davos.
And I think that's something we'll have to remember. Shinzo Abe wasn't just a political leader and a familiar face at the G7 and the G20.
[09:20:00]
STEWART: He was a very well regarded person in business circles. He was a regular at Davos and someone that people looked up to and that is
interesting, isn't it that we have Abenomics a bit like Thatcherism Reaganomics, he has something that he will be known for forever. His name
is in there.
CHATTERLEY: Yes. Anna great to have you with us thank you for that! OK, joining us now with more on Shinzo Abe's economic legacy is Takuji Okubo;
he is the Managing Director and Chief Economist at Japan Macro Advisors. Sir, thank you for joining us on the show today! I just want to start by
asking your response to what's taken place earlier today and how the Japanese people are responding?
TAKUJI OKUBO, MANAGING DIRECTOR & CHIEF ECONOMIST, JAPAN MACRO ADVISORS: Sure. Well, first of all, everybody was surprised, you know, getting a
politician that adorn Former Prime Minister being shot to death is truly surprising moment. I mean, nobody expected that.
So having said that, Prime Minister Abe was fairly divisive figure so it's not as if, say, the moment it's the church is not similar to say, United
States after the assassination of President Kennedy. You know, President Kennedy, I would say was a fairly uniting figure and but their Prime
Minister was a fairly divisive figure I would say.
CHATTERLEY: Do you feel less safe as a result? Or do you think you are sort of making the point--
OKUBO: I wouldn't say that. Yes, I wouldn't say that. Well, it is surprising that gun was used to kill anybody. You know, the gun deaths in
Japan are very, very small, less than 100 per year. And mostly, you know, it's been used with, you know, among the - and the mobs.
So it's - so that it is very surprising, but I don't think Japanese people would actually start to feel insecure that they, you know, gun would be
used against them. So I don't think that aspect is there.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, I think for international viewers who perhaps never have been to Japan, they won't understand, perhaps the culture that the relative
safety compared to other countries as you're pointing out.
But also, I think they'd be asking questions about where a former political leader and one that was so influential, and as you pointed out, sometimes
the policies were controversial, where his security was, I know, this is not your area of expertise.
But is it normal in your experience for politicians just to be out talking to people to be out there and available and willing to engage with people
without the shield of security that perhaps you would see in other countries? Because I do think it's something that's particular again, to
Japanese culture and society, perhaps relative to other countries?
OKUBO: Yes, it is, indeed. So yes, they are ruling parties and the opposing party, but they using violence against each other, especially when they are
making speech on the street. That is fairly unheard of. Yes, there were moments, you know, Japan was more youthful in more excitable back in you
know, 1950s 60s. But nowadays, you know, we have aged and like I said earlier, seeing such violence against political figure is it's such a shock
to the nation.
CHATTERLEY: And the whole country, the whole world, I think still digesting this and still shocked and stunned by this too. I want to get your wisdom,
your expertise on his legacy, because I know you feel very strongly that his greatest legacy isn't on "Abenomics" and the economic impact that he
had, but it's more about the geopolitics, it's about bringing the coordination together the United States, India, Austria and Australia, and
of course, Japan too. And his influence with world leaders that at a very difficult moment in time allowed those countries to come together and work
together.
OKUBO: Yes, indeed. So, you know, there's actually a good comparison. So there was another Prime Minister called - Prime Minister Koizumi, and for
Koizumi, and he was also known to be somewhat of a right wing. But for Koizumi being a right wing is just an excuse to make sure that his economic
reform get passed, but Prime Minister was quite the opposite.
He talked about "Abenomics". He talked about economic prosperity, and he encouraged Bank of Japan to take an extremely loose measure. But that was
more of an excuse that was more of a tool for Prime Minister Abe to pass his real agenda, which is raised Japan's profile on the international
arena. Make Japan I would say less pacifist by enabling Japan to be able to use military outside Japanese territory. So I will say his real legacy was
more in the international geopolitical area.
[09:25:00]
OKUBO: I would say he then - yes he did.
CHATTERLEY: Go ahead please.
OKUBO: I think he did exceed expectation with the Quad and also he was a resurrecting TPP, which, you know, United States under a Trump Presidency
abandoned. So for time, everybody thought, OK, TPP is now dead. But then under Prime Minister Abe's leadership, Japan was able to resurrect TPP, and
that there is economic unity within Asia Pacific on TPP.
CHATTERLEY: Yes, and we're just showing images now of a very vibrant, Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meeting world leaders. He was one of the
first to make an outreach to President Trump after he was elected in 2016. I know in a prolific traveler as well, because he felt the importance of
connection too.
He was also the country's youngest Prime Minister in the post war period too and to the point about trying to breathe new life be more assertive re-
galvanize the economy. Was he also a flag bearer for younger people in Japan too relative to the more elderly individuals that had run the country
in the past?
Because certainly, as an outsider, I feel like that was also a huge part of his legacy, his smile, his ability to engage he had a younger feel to him,
which brought some energy, I think, to Japan on the world stage. Did you feel that too as a Japanese citizen?
OKUBO: Yes, to some extent, but I think he was a more he was political, very political savvy. So they are indeed malcontents among the youth, you
know, lack of jobs, lack of good jobs so - and then someone being more nationalistic.
So in terms of generation younger generations, are more nationalistic than the older generations who tend to be a more global unity. So in that sense,
Prime Minister Abe being a nationalist did make him closer to younger generation than the elder generation.
CHATTERLEY: And Takuji, your verdict on Abenomics very quickly.
OKUBO: It was a failure. I was just excuse to get his political geopolitical agenda pathway and he did succeed on that.
CHATTERLEY: That was the short answer. Sir, we share the concerns, the fears that many I'm sure Japanese people do have today and we wish you
well. Thank you for your time. Takuji Okubo there!
OKUBO: Thank you.
CHATTERLEY: Sir thank you. After the break, I'll be back with more reaction to the assassination of Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stay with
CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:30:00]
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back! And recapping our breaking news this hour Japan's Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot during a
campaign speech. The incident was captured on video and I should warn you these images are disturbing.
Two shots were fired as you heard there Abe suffered bullet wounds to the right side of his neck and the chest. He underwent emergency treatment in
hospital but doctors could not stop the bleeding. Moments after the shots were fired you can see Abe's security detailed tackling the suspect to the
ground.
Police have named him his Yamagami Tetsuya a 41-year-old unemployed man. The gun he used appears to have been handmade the motive is not known at
this time. Abe was Japan's longest serving Prime Minister and a towering figure in Japanese and international politics his assassination already
sending shockwaves around the world. Blake Essig has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was speaking at a campaign rally East of Osaka on Thursday when chaos
ensues. Two shots can be heard, Abe has been hit in the chest and neck. The weapon a handmade gun lying on the ground.
Bystanders tried to aid the Former Prime Minister before he was rushed to the nearest hospital. But soon news broke he had succumbed to his injuries
and died age 67.
HIDENORI FUKUSHIMA, PROFESSOR, NARA MEDICAL UNIVERSITY: There were two bullet wounds. He was in a cardiopulmonary arrest after damage to large
blood vessels in the heart. We took resuscitative measures, but unfortunately he died at 5:03 pm.
ESSIG (voice over): Police have arrested the suspect a 41-year-old man who did not flee after the shooting a rare occurrence in Japan a country with
one of the world's lowest gun rates.
FUMIO KISHIDA, JAPENESE PRIME MINISTER: He loved this country and constantly looked beyond the current generation working hard for a brighter
future of this country, leaving behind many major successes in various categories.
ESSIG (voice over): World leaders also condemned the assassination.
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We really, really deeply mourn the loss of his family a loss for people of Japan a loss for the world.
ESSIG (voice over): EU Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen remembering Abe as a great Democrat. In South Korea the President said
Japan's longest serving PM was a respected politician that will stay in Japan's history Shinzo Abe's assassination now a black.in that history a
violent act of crime that is due to send ripples of shock across the country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHATTERLEY: It is more clarification there of course we now know that the suspect is 41-years-old and not 40. Blake Essig joins us now from Tokyo.
Blake, I know the investigation continues to ramp up what's the very latest details that we're hearing?
ESSIG: Yes, Julia, look we are learning more about the suspect in the assassination of Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Police are saying that
the suspect as you mentioned 41-year-old man unemployed has now admitted to shooting Abe.
Police say that this man went after Abe because he hates a certain group that he believed Abe had ties to. Now that man is being investigated as a
suspect for murder with 90 police investigators dedicated to this case, while a controversial figure here in Japan and around the world for his
policies of Abe.
[09:35:00]
ESSIG: As you'd mentioned an incredibly important figure in news of this shooting this assassination has absolutely shocked this nation and really
the entire world. And the hours following the shooting many have taken to social media.
They say that they had hoped originally that Abe would pull through some calling today shooting a barbaric act that shakes the root of democracy
saying whether or not you agree with his political stances, violence to suppress political stances is unacceptable.
Take a look at this happening right now. The location where this assassination took place, and now you have people coming in putting down
flowers, you know, taking a moment, you know, to remember the man, Japan's longest serving Prime Minister during a press conference shortly after the
shooting earlier today current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida really encapsulated the feelings of the people here in Japan.
He appeared emotional almost in tears while speaking to the press and said that this is not a forgivable act and that we will comprehend the situation
and take appropriate measures. Abe's brother and current Minister of Defense Nobuo Kishi also addressed the media calling the attack, an affront
to democracy, and suppression of freedom of speech.
We've also seen pictures of Shinzo Abe's wife eyes, looking down on the ground fixated as she entered the hospital, were at the time her husband
were fighting for his life. Simply put, Julia, there's an overwhelming sense of sadness and shock across Japan and really, around the world. And
those emotions will likely only deepen with the news that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been assassinated.
CHATTERLEY: Blake, I think, for most people watching this, there are two immediate questions. There are clearly many more but first is the weapon.
And what that looks like? And the second is security. And where was his security detail and the provisions to perhaps prevent something like this
happening? Can you address the first part of this once and just explain to our viewers how difficult it is to get a firearm in Japan?
ESSIG: Well, yes, I mean, look - I mean gun violence here in Japan, is incredibly rare. In this gun, you know, looking at the pictures of the
weapon that was used, it almost looks like this shotgun, you know, these two pipes, you know, almost kind of duct taped with, you know, black duct
tape, you know, held together, you know, again, you know, clearly a handmade weapon.
And Julia, again, here in Japan, gun violence is almost non-existent. You know, I would say at this point, the number of annual deaths resulting from
firearms hasn't reached triple digits since the year 2000, with the number of homicides involving guns, often in the single digits.
And the reason according to gun control advocates' is that firearm regulations are extremely restrictive under Japan's 1958 Firearm and Sword
Law, most guns are illegal in this country. Under the law, possession of a gun is only allowed if special approval is obtained.
And before that can even happen, you've got to pass a background check, explain to police why you need a gun, receive formal instruction and pass a
collection of written mental and drug tests so while rare when it comes to mass killings here in Japan, those responsible because guns are so
difficult to come by often resort to using knives or arson, instead of guns.
Follow up with your second question you know, I think that, you know, based on what we heard from the current Prime Minister talking about how we're
going to look at what happened here? You know, really start to make some changes.
I have to imagine that he's talking about, you know, the security detail that would be surrounding, you know, a Former Prime Minister after they're
no longer serving. Here in Japan, you have, especially around the campaign, around campaigns and around election time, you know, these politicians who
are stumping or who are actively campaigning, they are getting right up there close to the people.
When you look at the video of Shinzo Abe in the build up to when the shooting took place. I mean, you didn't have at least this visible security
presence, you know, keeping people away, it almost looks like people could, in essence walk right behind the Former Prime Minister while he was
shooting, and that seems to be exactly what happened.
So I think at this point, you know, we're going to have to look at the way things are done here and possibly change and make some changes as a result
of what happened here today?
CHATTERLEY: So, I think part perhaps not been needed to your earlier point and also a measure of the man too and that he liked to be out there and to
have that close touch to be talking to people too. A heartbreaking day Blake Thank you Blake Essig there. OK more after this stay with CNN.
[09:40:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage of the assassination of Shinzo Abe the Former Prime Minister of Japan. President Biden saying in
a statement released just moments ago I am stunned outraged and deeply saddened by the news. This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him.
He was a champion of the alliance between our nations and the friendship between our people.
Also today, the White House reacting to brand new U.S. employment numbers the great unexpected 372,000 jobs were added in the United States last
month net although jobs numbers for April and May were revised downward by some 74,000 jobs.
That said today's report proving once again, that the U.S. labor market remains a bright spot in an economy that's been showing signs of cooling in
recent months. I'm pleased to say Heather Boushey joins us now she's a Member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Heather, great to
have you with us! It's a solid jobs report but it does show that the pace of job creation is slowing, which I think you would expect at this point in
the cycle? It's also a lagging indicator. Is there anything in the labor market that's giving you cause for concern?
HEATHER BOUSHEY, MEMBER, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS: Well, we look at this report; it is an exceptionally good report for the American
people. What it means is that there's no indication that we're in a recession in terms of the labor market right now. We're seeing a continued
strong job growth across the economy in a wide array of industries.
And indeed the private sector jobs are back to where they were pre pandemic and then some. So this is - there are a lot of signs in here of a healthy
labor market, but one where the pace of job gains is slowing a bit, which is what you want to see as we get back and to transitioning to the kind of
strong stable steady growth that will we want to see over time.
CHATTERLEY: It is most definitely a bright spot. There are other challenges out there. And of course, the Federal Reserve is one of them, which you
have nothing to do with in a way they have to do what they can to restrain rising prices. And the price pressures that ordinary Americans are facing
and challenged with every day.
The Federal Reserve is saying look, jobs are going to be lost next year and they're going to be lost in 2024 and effectively that's the price that has
to be paid in order to restrain high prices. Is that an acceptable price to the White House if necessary?
BOUSHEY: Well, certainly the Federal Reserve is an independent agency we let them do their job and the President has been very, very clear on that
point.
[09:45:00]
BOUSHEY: But one of the things that we don't see in today's report are indications of what one would call a price wage spiral? We actually see is
that while wage gains remain strong and steady, they've slowed a bit and so I think that indicates that you're seeing some of those pressures easing in
the labor market, even as we continue to see strong job growth across the economy?
CHATTERLEY: So you're not worried about any job losses as a result of tighter monetary policy as a consequence?
BOUSHEY: Well, we're not seeing evidence of that at this point. I mean, seeing a gain of 370 some odd 1000 jobs in one month is certainly a very
strong report. And it indicates that there's continued health.
You know, one of the things that we've emphasized time and again, is it because of the kind of response that the President made, in terms of the
pandemic, when he first came into office and passage of the American rescue plan, we've really put the labor market and American families on a strong
footing in order to whether, you know, whatever comes next.
And certainly the United States is not the only country facing inflation. It's a global phenomenon, that what this report today indicates is that the
labor market continues to be strong, and that will give resiliency to the U.S. economy as we try to deal with these crises, inflation. And, of
course, Putin's war in Ukraine that is leading to higher energy prices globally.
CHATTERLEY: And as you quite rightly said, inflation is a crisis. And I know it's something that you're looking at in all respects, and how to
tackle. Can I ask what the latest status is with regards to the removal of sanctions on Chinese goods?
BOUSHEY: So let's set that aside for a moment. I mean, I think that there are a lot of things that the President has focused on in terms of dealing
with inflation and dealing with energy prices, in particular. So the President over the past few weeks has been focused on dealing with the fact
that U.S. refineries have been receiving these very high profits.
And yet, we haven't seen prices at the pump fall as much as they should, or that they could give in the fall in the price of oil. So there are very
specific ways that the President has called for working with refineries try to find solutions to lower gas prices for Americans.
CHATTERLEY: I could see that prices at pumps down 30 cents from the highs over the past month, which is some progress. Let's talk about it. But can
we go back to China? Do you see the removal of sanctions as a way to in some way make an impact on higher prices?
BOUSHEY: Well, here's the thing. We see these higher prices globally. And we know that at the root core, it is because we are all trying to recover
from this global pandemic, that up ended supply chains and because supply chains are global, and what happens in one country can affect when what
gets on store shelves in other places.
And then on top of that, with the war in Ukraine that has up ended global energy prices, really getting at the core of inflation requires using all
of the different tools that governments have at their disposal, because these are supply side shocks are not the usual kinds of challenges that we
see coming out of a recession.
And that's why the President has focused on doing what he can, with his power as the executive across all the different ways that we can think
about dealing with those supply side shocks. So he's very reliant on addressing global supply chains and the like.
CHATTERLEY: I would completely agree with you. There is nothing usual about what's going on in the world today, Heather, but you do sound like a lady
that's not in favor of removing those sanctions on Chinese goods. Can you confirm that? She says with a smile.
BOUSHEY: I really think that we - I'm trying to focus today on the things that the President announced and has focused on. And that there are a
series of tools that we need to invoke in order to deal with this problem; and that there is no one single magic bullet that the President is focusing
on all of these options.
CHATTERLEY: If only they were Heather great to chat to you thank you so much for your time today! Heather Boushey, a Member of the White House
Council of Economic Advisers, thank you! OK after the break, more reaction to the death of Shinzo Abe, the Former Japanese Prime Minister who was
assassinated while giving a speech earlier today.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:50:00]
CHATTERLEY: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage of the assassination of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe! You're looking at live pictures of
Nara, Japan where of course, the Former Prime Minister was giving a speech and was assassinated earlier today.
Mourners out on the streets showing respect as you can see on the left hand side of your screen there flowers also being laid in remembrance.
Condemnation has been global in scope. World leaders who worked closely with Abe during his years in power are in a state of shock. Let me give you
a sense of some of their responses.
Iran's Foreign Ministry saying as a country that's been a victim of terrorism and has lost great leaders to terrorists we're following the news
closely and with concern. Russian President Putin put out a statement saying the hand of a criminal cut short the life of an outstanding
statesman. The bright memory of this wonderful man will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew him.
French President Emmanuel Macron saying Japan has lost a great Prime Minister who dedicated his life to his country and worked to ensure order
in the world. The Taiwanese President out with this statement too not only has the international community lost an important leader, but Taiwan has
also lost an important and close friend.
And Former President Barack Obama saying I'm shocked and saddened by the assassination of my friend and longtime partner Shinzo Abe in Japan. Former
Prime Minister Abe was devoted to both the country he served and the extraordinary alliance between the United States and Japan.
And Paula Hancocks is in Seoul, South Korea for us. Paula, I think in terms of looking at Shinzo Abe's legacy it is that standing on the international
stage, the re-galvanizing of Japan's stance with leaders like in countries like the United States, for example, and pulling together the coordination
with a focus on greater security in the world. That's also a crucial part of his legacy.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, and what's interesting Julia is when you listen to some of the accolades and the condolences from the
leaders around the world is how many of them say my friend, many of them had worked with Shinzo Abe for many years, and they had become close over
that time showing that this is a Japanese Former Prime Minister that was very different to his predecessors in the way that he wanted to put Japan
on to the global stage.
He had a much more global outlook. And he was pushing forward with that agenda while he was in power. Worth pointing out that even though he did
step down in 2020, citing health concerns, he did stay very much in politics. He was just in the wings of the LDP, the ruling party, he had his
own faction, and there was no one that really believed that he had departed politics altogether.
So he was still a very dominant presence in Japan, that when it came to his foreign policy, I mean, it was certainly a different foreign policy to what
we had seen from his predecessors. The fact that he did court, international relationships, as you said, you've mentioned the Quad the
fact that he very much wanted to be part of the Quad to have this relationship that spanned the globe with India, Australia, the United
States and Japan, with a real security in mind to how they could counter threats that they saw and of course countering and ever growing and an ever
increasingly powerful China.
[09:55:00]
HANCOCKS: So certainly he did in that respect have some countries that were less open arm to him shall we say. Of course he did have his issues with
Beijing and we saw here as well in South Korea with the previous President Moon Jae-In they did not have a particularly good relationship at many
historical issues between Japan and South Korea that that still exists today.
So certainly there were issues with some of the neighbors in Northeast Asia. He was a divisive figure in many ways as well. For example, when he
went to the Yasukuni Shrine, which has many of the World War II, war dead - he went to visit there, but it also has some that are considered to be war
criminals that sparked fury among many of the countries in the Asia Pacific region. So he did bring countries together when you think about things like
the Quad, but he was also a divisive figure for others, Julia.
CHATTERLEY: And domestically too with both his economic policy and his push for greater military spending. But as we've said in the past all that
transcended by the tragedy today Paula, thank you for joining us. Paula Hancocks, and that's it for the show, "Connect the World" with Eleni Giokos
is up next.
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END
