Japan is about to experience a controversial event. Thousands of Japanese paid their last respects to their assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday morning, before a national funeral scheduled for the day in Tokyo.
Many citizens lined up to lay wreaths and briefly meditate in front of a portrait of Abe installed near the Nippon Budokan, a mecca for martial arts competitions, concerts and official ceremonies in the heart of the Japanese capital, where the funeral will start around 2 p.m. (7 a.m. in Paris). The event, however, is far from a moment of sacred union, having 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 expected at this non-denominational one and a half hour ceremony. Nineteen cannons will be fired as the urn containing Abe’s ashes arrives at the Budokan. After the national anthem and a minute of silence, several eulogies will be pronounced.
Emperor Naruhito and his wife Masako will not attend, due to their status as politically neutral national symbols, but other members of the Imperial Household will attend. Foreign guests include US Vice President Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. France will be represented by Nicolas Sarkozy.