PUTIN WELCOMES SHINZO ABE’S WIDOW TO THE KREMLIN

This important story was spotted and shared by S.C.G. and we are very grateful, because this is an important development, if one is willing to "read between the lines," as S.C.G. suggested in the email accompanying the article.

The event itself should not be overlooked, for Akie Abe, the widow of the late murdered Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe, was welcomed to the Kremlin by Russian President Vladimir Putin:

Meeting with Akie Abe Vladimir Putin received in the Kremlin the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe.

Before commenting on the remarks exchanged between Mrs. Abe and Mr. Putin, consider the event and its optics themselves, for rest assured, a visit by a popular Japanese premier's widow to the very country he intended to deepen bilateral relations with does not happen without a hefty vetting process and approval from the zaibatsu, Japan's version of the deep state, which, contrary to popular narratives, still exists. Indeed, I strongly suspect that Mrs. Abe did not just suddenly decide to take a trip to Moscow on her own: she was chosen to deliver messages, and the biggest message being delivered is simply her being there.  What's the message?

Most people are aware that Japan is facing its own financial difficulties, and I suspect that Mr. Abe's diplomatic overtures to Russia were, in part, provoked by these. As I argued during the period of his summits with Mr. Putin, Mr. Abe's "game plan" was a long term one: reorient Japan's trade and relationships with the world, beginning with Russia. The Japanese zaibatsu took the measure of America - particularly before and during the Fukushima disaster - and found it to be an unreliable ally (though they never publicly voiced this assessment). Basically, the Japanese deep state had reached the same conclusion as the Russians: the USA was "not-agreement- capable." As I argued then, I advanced the idea that a Russo-Japanese rapprochement was all but inevitable: Russia has the energy that Japan needs to power its massive industrial plant, and Japan has the technology and financial infrastructure that Russia needs to develop the Siberian region. Recall, too, that Mr. Abe, when he was premier, also made the Japanese credit clearing system available to Russia when the first wave of American sanctions were being floated, and that he also sent a team of Japanese railroad technicians to Russia to undertake an on-site inspection of the Trans-Siberian, an event that, at the time, I interpreted as a long-range study to see how Japan might help Russia possibly transform the railway to high-speed high capacity passenger and freight service.  This energy-for-finance-and-technology relationship that I believed underwrote Mr. Abe's efforts are in my opinion still operative, and that brings us to Mrs. Abe's visit.

Visits of the widows of Japanese premiers to the Kremlin to see the Russian president and exchange a few words "don't just happen." This event took planning and coordination at the highest levels in both countries, certainly all  the way up the the current Japanese premiership and the office of the Russian president. I would not even be surprised if, at some level, the Japanese emperor and imperial family was involved, for reasons I'll get into in a moment.

In this context, then, consider the following exchange of remarks between Mr. Putin and Mrs. Abe:

Mr. Putin: Your husband contributed greatly to the development of Russian-Japanese relations. I had very warm personal relations with him. I also remember my visits to Japan – at his invitation.

I saw that he sincerely sought the full restoration of Russian-Japanese cooperation and did much to achieve this. In many ways, he continued his family’s tradition, as his father held the same stance when he was Japan’s Foreign Minister, I believe, in the 1980s.

We are very grateful to him for his stance. We have always respected his work in this area, and we remember his contribution to the development of Russian-Japanese cooperation.

His life was tragically cut short by a terrorist attack. But the memory of him, his activities, and his work is carefully preserved here in Russia. (emphasis added)

Translation: Your husband's efforts were tragically cut short, but we're quite open to picking things up where we left off, and are willing to do so.  Then comes Mrs. Abe's response:

Mrs. Abe: As you rightly said, I often accompanied my husband on his trips to Russia. Now that I have returned, I have been overwhelmed by a strong sense of nostalgia.

You noted correctly that my husband’s father, Shintaro Abe, as Foreign Minister, promoted the development of relations with your country, and my husband sought to continue these traditions, making every effort to do so.

Indeed, you met with Mr Abe, my husband, on numerous occasions: if counted, it amounts to 27 times. This alone testifies to the contribution he endeavoured to make to bilateral relations.

I would like to note that you visited Yamaguchi Prefecture, his native region – very few, if any, other top leaders of foreign states have visited it. The fact that he hosted you there demonstrates his particularly sincere attitude towards your country.

...

But today, my principal objective in this conversation is to express sincere gratitude that you so actively developed dialogue with my husband and pursued stronger relations between our countries.

I might add that even after the onset of the challenging situation concerning Ukraine, my husband hoped to meet with you. Regrettably, circumstances prevented further meetings: his life was cut short. He always spoke of continuing this process as his legacy – the endeavour he sought to expand.

I am not a politician and do not wish to address political matters. I will only say that Russia is a very important neighbour for Japan. It would bring me happiness if cultural exchanges and human contacts could develop between our nations even during this difficult period. (emphasis added)

Translation: Message received and understood, and we too are anxious to pick things up where we left off, and we can table - as my late husband did - all discussions of political matters that separate, to concentrate on the economic and cultural matters that unite.

In other words, even this public exchange was carefully scripted, and no doubt carefully coordinated between Tokyo and Moscow prior to Mrs. Abe's visit. The meeting was not only to feel each other out, but also to quietly announce to the rest of the world, that Russia and Japan are going to continue with Mr. Abe's vision, with that "energy-for-finance-and-technology" nexus that so mutually benefits Russia and Japan. The two countries need each other as counterweights to China, and in view of the USA unrealiability as an ally or good faith broker; being "not-agreement-capable" has its hazards.

The real question is, what messages were conveyed between Mr. Putin and Mrs. Abe when the cameras and microphones were not turned on, and the meeting went behind closed doors? My bet is, specific proposals for more meetings, and the specific personnel, venues, and agendas for such were discussed...time will tell.

See you on the flip side...

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