In pictures:

Shinzo Abe's most memorable moments

_{ALICE FRENCH and KEN KOBAYASHI}

Holding office for a total of almost 10 years, Shinzo Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

His assassination on July 8 prompted an outpouring of condolences from leaders around the world, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden.

Abe had served as a member of Japan's Diet since 1993, when he was first elected to the lower house as a representative of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from Yamaguchi Prefecture. His first stint as prime minister began in 2006 but was cut short by the LDP's poor showing in an upper house election in the summer of 2007, which led to his resignation later that year.

Abe's second term started in late 2012, with Japan still smarting from the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdowns of March 11, 2011.

At home, Abe's second tenure, which lasted through most of 2020, was characterized by aggressive reflationary policies dubbed "Abenomics," which reduced Japan's unemployment rate.

Abroad, he was known for his outgoing and realist diplomacy, which earned him friendships with several world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump. He is also remembered by many for appearing dressed as the popular Nintendo character Mario when Brazil passed the baton to Japan during the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Shinzo Abe, center right, was born in Tokyo in 1954 to Shintaro and Yoko Abe. His grandfather, Nobusuke Kishi, center, was prime minister from 1957 to 1960 and played a key role in forming the LDP in 1955.

_{Photo by Kyodo}

Abe won his first lower house election in 1993, before his 40th birthday. He ran as an LDP candidate and served Yamaguchi Prefecture, where his family is from.

_{Photo by Jiji}

After being elected president of the ruling LDP in April 2006, Abe was inaugurated as prime minister on Sept. 26 of that year. At 52, he was the youngest postwar prime minister.

^{Photo by Yumi Kotani}

Abe's first stint as prime minister ended on Sept. 12, 2007. He resigned after less than a year in the role and after the LDP suffered great losses in an upper house election. In addition, Abe's popularity was waning due to controversial comments about Japan's imperial system.

_{Pool photo}

Abe, seen here approaching Tokyo's Imperial Palace, became prime minister for the second time on Dec. 26, 2012, having led the LDP to victory under the slogan, "Take back Japan." Voters had tired of the Democratic Party's handling of the aftermath of the March 2011 triple disaster.

_{Photo by Hirofumi Yamamoto}

During his second stint as prime minister, Abe greatly strengthened Japan's ties with Russia, making a total of 11 official visits to Moscow and becoming friends with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He first visited Putin in the Kremlin in April 2013.

_{Photo by Reuters}

In April 2015, Abe made the first official visit by a Japanese prime minister to the U.S. in nine years. He met with then-President Barack Obama and discussed Japan-U.S. defense cooperation and the maintenance of a "free and open" Asia-Pacific.

_{Photo by Reuters}

One of Abe's most significant diplomatic achievements was forging the Agreement on Comfort Women with former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. In March 2015, nine months before the agreement was announced, protestors in Seoul held Abe face masks at a rally criticizing the Japanese government's response to the issue.

_{Photo by Kyodo}

As a diplomat, Abe was defined by his friendships with leaders across the world. On May 5, 2016, he enjoyed a private audience with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in London, the U.K., with his wife, Akie.

_{Photo by Reuters}

On Aug. 27, 2016, Abe announced his vision for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development, in Kenya. Soon after, the U.S. renamed its Pacific Command the Indo-Pacific Command.

_{Photo by AP}

At the closing ceremony of the Rio Olympics in August 2016, Abe appeared on stage dressed as Mario. Five years later, Tokyo hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which were delayed for 12 months by the COVID-19 pandemic.

_{Photo by AP}

In October 2018, Abe met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. The leaders stressed the importance of Japan and China maintaining their relationship, but Abe made clear his concerns about security in the East China Sea.

_{Photo by Xinhua via AP}

Then-U.S. President Donald Trump visited Tokyo in May 2019 and enjoyed a game of golf with Abe. It was the fifth time the two leaders, who developed a close friendship, had golfed together. The pair also took a selfie on the golf course that went viral on social media.

_{Photo by Reuters}

On Aug. 28, 2020, three years into his fourth successive term as prime minister, Shinzo Abe announced his retirement due to chronic health problems caused by ulcerative colitis. Yoshihide Suga was elected LDP leader and became prime minister around three weeks later.

_{Photo by Kai Fujii}