CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurates Abe Memorial Corridor in Varanasi

In Varanasi, Akie Abe and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath jointly inaugurated the ‘Shinzo Abe Memorial Corridor’ at the Rudraksh Convention Centre on Wednesday, October,7,2026. Aki Abe, the widow of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, thanked Yogi for the memorial and expressed her gratitude to PM Modi and the people of India for inviting her to the event, held on the day Modi completed 25 years in public office. This memorial corridor serves as a living symbol that passes down to the present day the achievements of former Prime Minister Abe, who dedicated himself to strengthening the historical, cultural, and diplomatic relations between India and Japan."This Memorial Corridor is a living symbol of Shinzo Abe's contributions to strengthening the historical, cultural, and diplomatic relations between India and Japan" said CM Yogi. Yogi recalled Shinzo Abe’s visits to India and his contribution to bilateral ties. The former Japanese prime minister was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2021.

Kashi Abe Memorial Corridor inaugurated by CM Yogi Adityanath in the presence of Akie Abe, former First Lady of Japan. The memorial is dedicated to the legacy of former PM of Japan Shinzo Abe inside the Rudraksh Convention Center. The corridor stands as a physical symbol of strong India-Japan partnership including 'Kashi to Kyoto' journey.

— The Uttar Pradesh Index (@theupindex) October 7, 2026

Aki Abe also spoke about her long-standing desire to visit Varanasi. She recalled how Shinzo Abe visited Kashi with Modi in 2015 and witnessed the Ganga Aarti. She said it had been her heartfelt desire to visit the city and see everything with her own eyes. Aki Abe said she had been told that Varanasi was originally called Kashi, noting that both Kashi and Kyoto are ancient cities whose names begin with the letter ‘K’. Aki Abe also recalled the significance of the Rudraksh Convention Centre, referring to the contributions of Shinzo Abe and Modi in building the facility.
She pointed to the 108 symbolic rudrakshas placed on the exterior walls of the centre and explained their significance in Japan. She said bells are rung 108 times at Japanese Buddhist temples on the last day of December, reflecting the belief that human beings have 108 afflictions or evils.
The Rudraksh Convention Centre, built with Japanese assistance, is itself a symbol of India-Japan cooperation. Modi inaugurated the centre in 2021. A photo gallery at the venue features photographs from December 2015, when Shinzo Abe accompanied Modi to Varanasi and participated in the Ganga Aarti.