Japan's Shinzo Abe sought to revive economy, fulfil conservative agenda

Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, launched his "Abenomics" policies to lift the economy out of deflation, beefed up Japan's military and sought to counter China's growing clout in a historic two-term tenure.
 

Abe, 67, appeared to have been shot during a campaign speech on Friday, national broadcaster NHK reported.
 

The conservative lawmaker, who quit abruptly as premier in 2007 after one year in the post, swept back for a rare second stint in 2012 pledging to revive a stagnant economy, loosen the limits of a post-World War Two pacifist constitution and restore traditional values.
 

He was instrumental in winning