- More than 4,000 guests attended the ceremony, which cost around 12 million euros.

- According to a survey by the NHK chain, more than half of the Japanese are against the celebration of the event.

Among the attendees were leaders from countries around the world.

Tokyo and leaders of more than 200 countries bid farewell to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a controversial state funeral

Thousands of people gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July at an election rally. The ceremony, which has cost more than 12 million euros to the public coffers, has been attended by more than 4,000 guests, including up to 700 foreign guests from various countries and international organizations.

It is not the first farewell to the Japanese president, since just four days after his death a private funeral took place; but his successor, Fumio Kishida, decided to organize this public tribute despite protests from the opposition and part of the citizenry. "Abe, you are a person who should have lived much, much longer," Kishida said during his address on Tuesday. "As a compass for Japan and the rest of the world, you would have worked 10... no, 20 more years," he added.

Characterized by strict security measures guarded by more than 20,0000 agents, the massive ceremony started at 2:00 p.m. local time, although the public has been allowed to lay flowers for four hours before in a nearby park.

Among the attendees were leaders from countries around the world, such as the Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendar Modi, who gathered to pay tribute to the former head of the Government of Japan. More than 4,000 guests attended the funeral, which was held in the capital's Nippon Budokan stadium, a space often used for sports or music events.

US Vice President Kamala Harris (L) and US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel (R) pay their respects during former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's state funeral at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, September 27, 2022.

Citizen opposition

Meanwhile, opponents of the funeral have held rallies outside Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's office, the Parliament building, and other places around the country, demanding that the event be canceled.

The number of people demonstrating against the ceremony is increasing, as critics argue that this state funeral lacks a legal basis and cite the controversial legacy of the Japanese politician, who was assassinated on July 8 while giving a speech at a campaign rally. in the city of Nara, in western Japan. Added to this is that the Government estimates that the funeral will cost the taxpayer more than 1,600 million yen (11 million euros).

Hundreds of other Japanese have also demonstrated in a central Tokyo park to protest against the funeral celebration and ask that it "stop immediately". The protesters, who gathered in Hibiya Park before continuing the march to the iconic Nippon Budokan pavilion, carried banners calling for it to be stopped and criticizing Abe as a politician.

"I am against the state funeral of anyone because it is a violation of democracy," said Shimasaki Kobae, a retiree who attended the rally and said Abe is responsible for "destroying democracy" in the Asian country.

Demonstrators protest in Tokyo against the government's decision to hold a state funeral for the death of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

For Kobae, today's ceremony is "a rite to praise Abe and it cannot be allowed," he said before singing a protest song that said "stop, stop, let's stop it" along with other criticisms of the current government of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

"Personally, I don't think Abe is worthy of having a funeral. Even if he was a good person, I don't think it should be done," said Etsuko Takabatake, a retired woman, who shares the view of other Japanese that this kind of event should not be financed with public money.

Among the protesters' banners, some stood out in which Abe's photo was superimposed on that of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and the former prime minister was criticized for his militaristic policy or for having lied about his connection with the controversial Church of the Unification.

Shot in July

Abe was shot in the middle of the street during an electoral act on July 8, by a man who was arrested after committing the attack and who confessed to the authorities that his motivation for the assassination was the politician's support for the said church, also known as the "Moonies" or the "Moon Sect".

According to a recent poll by state broadcaster NHK, more than half of Japanese are against holding this event in commemoration of Abe, who died at the age of 67 and was prime minister from 2006 to 2007 and from 2012 to 2020.

The EU advocates continuing the "diplomatic legacy"

The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, advocated today that the European Union (EU) and Japan "continue to develop the diplomatic legacy" left by former Japanese president Shinzo Abe, who contributed greatly to the rapprochement between the two powers, he said.

Michel conveyed this message to the current Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, during a bilateral meeting this Tuesday, in which the leader of the European Council recalled his visit last May to the Japanese city of Hiroshima. Michel also indicated his willingness to "cooperate closely" with Japan, which will assume the rotating presidency of the Group of Seven most developed countries (G7) next January. The summit of leaders of the seven powers will be held next spring precisely in the city of Hiroshima.

Kishida, along the same lines, expressed his desire to "continue working with the EU and within the framework of international efforts towards a world free of nuclear weapons," according to the Japanese ministry. The two leaders also stressed the need to "maintain the unity of the G7 to face the situation in Ukraine", and showed their determination to "maintain the strong sanctions against Russia and support Kyiv".

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