This is an event that is far from unanimous in Japan. The state funeral for slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began in Tokyo on Tuesday with the arrival of his widow, carrying the urn containing her husband’s ashes.
Dressed in a black kimono and greeted by incumbent Prime Minister Fumio Kishida around 2 p.m. (7 a.m. in Paris), Akie Abe brought the urn to the Nippon Budokan, a mecca for martial arts competitions, concerts and official ceremonies in the heart of the Japanese capital, in front of several thousand distinguished Japanese and foreign guests. The sacred union is not on the cards in the country, however, as the event has sparked intense controversy and protests in recent weeks.
Scandals around the “Moon sect”
Abe broke the longevity record for a serving Prime Minister in Japan (more than eight and a half years in 2006-2007 and 2012-2020). He was the most internationally known Japanese political figure. His assassination by bullets in the middle of a meeting on July 8 at the age of 67 shocked Japan and the whole world.
But Abe was also hated by many for his ultra-liberal and nationalist views, his desire to revise the Constitution and his proximity to numerous political and financial scandals. The motive of his alleged killer – Abe’s alleged ties to the Unification Church, dubbed the “Moon sect” – has further tarnished the former prime minister’s image.
Since his death, revelations have continued to rain down on the extent of the links between this Church and parliamentarians, especially from the Liberal Democratic Party (PLD, in power), formerly led by Abe and today by the current Prime Minister Fumio. Kishida, whose popularity rating has melted since this summer.
Fumio Kishida’s swift and unilateral decision to hold a state funeral has therefore outraged the opposition who believe it should have been debated and approved in Parliament. Several opposition parties will boycott the ceremony. Tributes of this type for politicians are especially rare in Japan, the last dating back to 1967. The estimated cost of the ceremony, equivalent to 12 million euros, also irritated. According to the latest polls, about 60% of Japanese are opposed to this state funeral.
France represented by Nicolas Sarkozy
Some 4,300 people including 700 foreign dignitaries are present at this non-denominational one and a half hour ceremony. Nineteen cannon shots must be fired. After the national anthem and a minute of silence, several eulogies will be delivered.
Emperor Naruhito and his wife Masako are not present, due to their status as politically neutral national symbols, but other members of the imperial household attend. Foreign guests include US Vice President Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. France is represented by Nicolas Sarkozy.