Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's abrupt decision to resign has caught Japan off guard at a moment of great uncertainty as the global coronavirus pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for the country.
The announcement on Friday of his impending resignation, which Abe attributed to his state of health, came as a surprise but also brought about a sense of deja vu for many people who saw him step down in 2007 due to the worsening of his illness — ulcerative colitis — during his first stint as the nation's leader.
The 65-year-old called it quits only a few days after he became the longest-serving prime minister in terms of consecutive days in office. In recent days, he had also had multiple hospital visits, sparking concerns that his health may be deteriorating.