Shinzo Abe on Thursday equaled Hirobumi Ito, the nation’s first prime minister and a prominent statesman during the Meiji Era (1868-1912), as Japan’s third-longest-serving prime minister.
Thursday marked the 2,720th day of Abe's administration, including his first, short-lived stint in power from 2006 to 2007.
"I've come this far thanks to strong support I've received from the public in the last five national elections, as well as various experiences I had during my first time" as the prime minister, Abe told reporters Thursday morning.