TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday held his first news conference since June, breaking a spell that coincided with an upswing in new coronavirus infections across the nation, a swell of criticism of the government's response to the wave and speculation that Abe may be remaining out of the public's eye due to low approval numbers.
The news conference followed the atomic bomb victims' memorial service and peace prayer ceremony in Hiroshima, a regular event held by successive prime ministers.
