Former head of the Japanese cabinet Shinzo Abe died in the Nara University hospital following a shooting attack, NHK reported on Friday.
The 67-year-old politician succumbed to the wounds after an attacker - allegedly a former military sailor - shot him two times during a campaign event from a distance of about 10 meters.
Police said Abe was conscious immediately after being wounded, but then, during transportation, his condition became critical "with cardiac and pulmonary arrest."