Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has actively joined the political world again with plans to use his connections with foreign leaders to support Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
Abe also intends to utilize conservative groups of lawmakers close to him as a base to make himself heard. He is expected to return to the Liberal Democratic Party's Hosoda faction sometime next year.
Abe recently entered his constituency of Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for the first time since his resignation in September.
"My health is coming back," Abe said at a meeting with his supporters after visiting the grave of his father, former Foreign Minister Shintaro Abe. "As a member of the House of Representatives, I want to contribute to regional development while supporting Prime Minister Suga."
During his stay in the prefecture until Nov. 3, he plans to jump back into a schedule that includes meetings with senior members of his support group.
Abe retired as prime minister on Sept. 16 due to his worsening chronic ulcerative colitis.
Suga has reportedly called Abe on a number of occasions before summit talks to seek his advice. An LDP lawmaker who recently spoke with Abe said the conversations were lively because "Mr. Abe is the only one who can persuade U.S. President Donald Trump" if turmoil arises over the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.
On Oct. 25, Abe attended a meeting to recognize his services held by Sosei Nippon, a conservative group of lawmakers of which he is president. Many close aides attended, including Hakubun Shimomura, chair of the LDP Policy Research Council; Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Koichi Hagiuda; and Seiichi Eto, the former state minister of measures to address the chronically low birthrate.
On Oct. 27, another conservative group of lawmakers, Nihon no Songen to Kokueki o Mamoru kai (The conference to protect Japan's diginity and national interest), invited Abe to be their guest and asked him to become their top adviser.
Both groups seem to want to put Abe at the forefront and show off their presence, saying the Suga administration is less conservative.
Asked about his return to the Hosoda faction, Abe said on Oct. 27: "I received all-party support. I want to concentrate on my activities as a lawmaker for a while." However, Abe has often attended fundraising parties held by Hosoda faction members, apparently with an eye to becoming their leader.
"He will return [to the faction] next year, while making sure other factions do not oppose the move," a source close to the faction said.
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