Kan Abe

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kan Abe (安倍寛, Abe Kan^?) (1894 – January 30, 1946), was a Japanese politician. Born into a family of brewers of soy sauce and sake who were landlords in the area of Otsu District (now part of the city of Nagato) in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he graduated from Tokyo Imperial University, the predecessor of the University of Tokyo. He was elected to the House of Representatives, and enjoyed great popularity, earning the nickname "New Shoin" or "Showa Shoin" in honor of the earlier leader from Yamaguchi, Yoshida Shoin. At the time of his death, he was preparing to run in the first postwar general election.

Abe's son Shintaro became a successful politician, also representing Yamaguchi, and held posts in the Cabinet. Shintaro's son Shinzo was the Prime Minister of Japan.