It is Wednesday in Japan, which means that Abe is officially Japan's longest-serving prime minister. Here are some of my favorite viral moments from his tenure.
Abe dresses up as Mario at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Abe does an excited little jog at a meeting with Putin.
Abe meets Trump at the White House for the first time.
Abe tumbles into the sand trap during a golf outing with Trump
Abe and his wife Akie install a Canadian beaver door knocker at their country home.
There's a serious point here. Somehow after 2007, Abe learned to loosen up and even laugh at himself a little bit. It hasn't made him universally beloved, but it's made him more likable, which has probably helped his poll numbers on the margins.
It would have been hard to imagine 2007-vintage Abe donning a Mario costume.
Anyway, stay tuned for more Abe content and watch out for my biography of Abe - THE ICONOCLAST - coming from @HurstPublishers in 2020. hurstpublishers.com/book/the-icono….
Which of these viral Abe moments is most unforgettable?
