The deadly shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech in the city of Nara has raised important questions about the level of protection being provided to high-profile individuals in Japan.
Abe’s broad daylight assassination Friday — two days ahead of an Upper House election — prompted a noticeable beefing up of security for candidates on Saturday, the final day of campaigning.
It has also led the National Police Agency (NPA) to launch an investigation into potential security flaws as it aims to find out why police officers and other armed security personnel guarding Abe could not prevent the shooting.