Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has vowed to ensure the safety of the Group of Seven (G7) dignitaries visiting Japan following a close call with an attack.
Enhanced security measures have been implemented, particularly for climate ministers convening in Sapporo.
On Sunday, Japan’s Environment Minister Akihiro Nishimura commented that security has become more stringent. Kishida was escorted to safety on Saturday after a man threw an object resembling a smoke bomb at him during an election campaign in western Japan.
Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, attributed the increased security to the challenges of contemporary politics, particularly the misinformation spreading through social media.
According to Kyodo news agency, the suspect in Saturday’s incident, 24-year-old Ryuji Kimura, was also carrying a knife and possibly another explosive device.
Read: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Evacuated After Smoke Bomb Incident
Kishida emphasized that Japan cannot allow acts of violence that undermine democracy. The incident in Wakayama, near Osaka, brought back memories of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July last year. The rare occurrence of gun crime in Japan prompted a review of security measures for politicians.
Japanese politicians are currently campaigning for by-elections for the lower house of parliament, scheduled for April 23. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno stated that police had been directed to strengthen security, and necessary measures will be taken when Kishida hosts other G7 leaders in Hiroshima in May.
Britain’s Secretary of State for Energy Security, Grant Shapps, expressed confidence in the safety of the G7 leaders during their visit to Japan. G7 foreign ministers are set to meet in the resort city of Karuizawa on Sunday.
