andthe former prime minister Shinzo Abeo collapsed after being shot during a campaign speech, according to national broadcaster NHK TV.
The broadcaster said the 67-year-old suffered heart failure on Friday after images of him collapsed on the street as several guards rushed toward him.
A 41-year-old man suspected of committing the shooting in the western city of Nara has been arrested, police said.
NHK said Mr Abe was bleeding and clutching his chest as he collapsed and was rushed to a hospital. Kyodo and NHK news agency said Abe appeared to be in a state of cardiac arrest when he was airlifted to hospital after initially regaining consciousness and responding.
Witnesses said they heard shots fired at the apparent attack in Nara in western Japan.
He had stood during an election campaign speech ahead of Sunday’s election to the upper house of parliament.
The scene in Nara after the apparent shooting
† APUS Ambassador Rahm Emanuel said the United States was “sad and shocked” by the shooting of Mr Abe.
“Abe-san has been an outstanding leader of Japan and an unwavering ally of the United States,” he said in a statement.
“The US government and the American people pray for the well-being of Abe-san, his family and the people of Japan.”
Mr Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, resigned in 2020 after saying a chronic health problem had resurfaced.
He launched his “Abenomics” policy to pull the economy out of deflation, bolstered the Japanese military and attempted to counter China’s growing power in a historic two-term tenure.