Japan honors former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s with state funeral

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Around 700 foreign dignitaries from around 200 countries attended the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
While hundreds paid tributes, some held protest over the event's heavy expenses.
Min Suk-hyen has the full story.
More than 4-thousand people gathered on Tuesday for the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The service began at 2 PM local time at the Nippon Budokan in central Tokyo.
Condolence speeches were given by current Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, highlighting Abe's achievements.

"Abe-san, you were a man of courage. You were a sincere and compassionate person, who cherished your friends, and who was a good husband who deeply loved Mrs. Akie. I think I will always remember it fondly." "Abe-san. Prime Minister Abe. Thank you for your hard work. And thank you very much. Please rest in peace."

The three-hour ceremony was attended by 700 foreign dignitaries including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Hundreds of people also lined up nearby to pay tribute to Japan's longest-serving prime minister.

"Today is the last day to say a proper goodbye. I went to the headquarters of the Liberal Democratic Party in July and also visited the site in Nara prefecture where the incident happened. It's the last day to bid my farewell, so I must come here today."

Despite the outpouring of condolences, hundreds of others marched the streets of Tokyo, holding up signs that read "No State Funeral."
Some expressed anger over Kishida's unilateral decision to hold a state funeral, while others strongly opposed it as the costly event is likely to be covered entirely by Japanese taxpayers.

"The problem is that they used our tax money for this. It would not have been a problem if the cost was covered by the LDP or the Cabinet. That's what I feel."

The government projects the state funeral to cost 12 million U.S. dollars.
It's the first time in 55 years for Japan to hold a state funeral for a former prime minister since holding one for Shigeru Yoshida in 1967.
Min Suk-hyen, Arirang News.

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2022-09-27, 21:00 (KST)