Former First Lady of Japan, Akie Abe, widow of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is visiting Palau. While there, she met with President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. and First Lady Valerie R. Whipps on Sept. 18.
President Whipps also spoke warmly of former Prime Minister Abe, expressing his deep respect and noting how “Abenomics” helped revitalize Japan’s economy. Mrs. Abe thanked the President for his kindness and for attending her husband’s funeral, a gesture she said she deeply appreciated.
Whipps presented Abe with a Palauan itabori carved by a local artist and a glass napoleon wrasse crafted by Belau Eco Glass, noting the Japanese roots reflected in both art forms. The itabori is an art form that well-known woodcarver Hijikata Hisakatsu developed around the 1930s based on the Palauan artistry on the cultural bais, or meeting houses.
More recently, glass blowing was introduced in Palau around 2013 with the launch of the Belau Eco-Glass program. The initiative was developed with aid from the Japanese government and Japanese volunteers to produce glass art while recycling waste glass bottles. Mrs. Abe remarked that she plans to visit Belau Eco Glass during her stay. To see more photos visit the Journal photo gallery. mbj
