Abe Memorial Corridor honoring Shinzo Abe, India-Japan ties inaugurated in Varanasi

The ‘Abe Memorial Corridor,’ dedicated to the memories of India-Japan friendship and cultural ties, was inaugurated at the Rudraksh Convention Center in Varanasi on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) by Akie Abe, wife of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

“The Abe Memorial Corridor is a living classroom for new generation. Every young person who comes here will be able to learn how a far-sighted leader can give a new direction to the future of two countries,” said Mr. Adityanath, while inaugurating the corridor. 

Mr. Adityanath added, “The true tribute to late Shinzo Abe San would be that the friendship between India and Japan grows stronger every year than it was the previous year. This corridor is not merely a place preserving the memories of former Prime Minister of Japan, late Shinzo Abe San, but also a living symbol of the unbreakable friendship, trust and shared heritage between India and Japan.” 

“Rudraksh is a symbol of friendship between India and Japan. Japan gifted Rudraksh to Kashi and today Kashi is preserving forever in this very Rudraksh the memory of former PM of Japan, late Shinzo Abe San, a symbol of friendship with Japan. Today is a very important day for all of us. As we take this friendship to a new dimension, October 7 is also the day when, exactly 25 years ago, on this very day in 2001, Prime Minister Modi ji took oath for the first time as Chief Minister of Gujarat. The foundation of friendship between our Prime Minister and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was also laid during that period. In 2007, Modi ji visited Japan as CM of Gujarat. It was there that he met Shinzo Abe San for the first time. This friendship was not built on position, it was built on trust. Positions changed, but the friendship did not. The inauguration of a memorial corridor dedicated to the memory of that friendship on the day when 25 years of this journey of public service are being completed, there could not be a more beautiful coincidence,” said Mr. Adityanath. 

Mr. Adityanath recalled Shinzo Abe’s visit to India for the first time as Prime Minister in 2007, and his push for strong India-Japan partnership. “In August 2007, when Shinzo Abe San visited India for the first time as Prime Minister, he addressed the Parliament of India and said that a strong India is in Japan’s best interest and a strong Japan is in India’s best interest. In 2014, Kashi-Kyoto Partner City Agreement was signed in Kyoto. In 2015, he witnessed Indian faith at Kashi’s Ganga Aarti. In 2017, he laid the foundation stone of the bullet train in Ahmedabad and took India into a new era of mobility. In 2018, Shinzo Abe San invited Prime Minister Modi ji to his private residence in Yamanashi, giving a personal touch to the relations between the two countries,” said the U.P. CM.