Variable stator vane structure of axial compressor

An axial compressor, comprising;

• a casing;
• a rotational shaft rotatably provided in the casing;
• a row of rotor blades provided on the rotational shaft around a central axial line of the rotational shaft at a prescribed pitch;
• and
• a row of stator vanes provided on the casing around the central axial line at a prescribed pitch so as to adjoin the row of rotor blades on an upstream or downstream side thereof,
• wherein the rotor blades each extend along a radial line emanating from the central axial line, and the stator vanes each extend along a slanted line that is inclined with respect to a corresponding radial line in a circumferential direction in such a manner that a radially outer end of each stator vane is circumferentially offset from a radially inner end thereof by the pitch of the stator vanes.