Japan to hold state funeral for former PM Abe this year

TOKYO: Japan will host a state funeral regarding assassinated former premier Shinzo Abe this autumn, Excellent Minister Fumio Kishida said on Thurs (Jul 14), following an outpouring associated with shocked condolences from world leaders.

Abe, Japan’s best-known politician and longest-serving excellent minister, was photo dead in wide daylight while advertising on Friday in front of upper house polls.

A private funeral service was held for family and close associates immediately at a Tokyo temple, but a state funeral will also take place to demonstrate that “Japan is not going to give in to violence and is determined to safeguard democracy”, Kishida stated.

Abe “was held in very high esteem by the worldwide community, including international leaders, ” this individual told reporters, and “mourning messages have poured in from your home and abroad”.

“In light of this, we will hold a state funeral for previous prime minister Abe in the autumn. ”

The 67-year-old Abe held office for nearly nine years in total until resigning in 2020 with regard to health reasons.

His long time within power, support associated with reconstruction after the 2011 tsunami and nuclear disaster, and “efforts towards diplomacy brought by strong Japan-US relations” will be honored at the event, Kishida said.

According to local media, it can be the second state funeral service held in post-war Japan for a previous prime minister, following a public memorial with regard to Shigeru Yoshida within 1967.