Japan Set To Bid Final Farewell To Shinzo Abe, Its Longest-Serving PM

Japan is about to bid farewell to its longest-serving premier Shinzo Abe, who dominated Japanese politics for many years, earlier than being assassinated at a marketing campaign rally final week. The positioning of Abe’s funeral at Tokyo’s Zojoji temple is witnessing lengthy queues since early morning with folks wearing black, blended with others in casual clothes with backpacks. The 1:00 pm ceremony will stay open solely to household and shut buddies. A number of mourners had visited the temple beating summer season warmth on Monday to pay their respects to Abe.

The 67-year-old chief was killed by an unemployed man sending shockwaves the world over, particularly when the nation has witnessed uncommon gun crime and political violence.

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As soon as the funeral is over, the hearse bearing Abe’s physique can be taken by means of central Tokyo with black mourning ribbons draped in Japanese flags, reported information company Reuters.

The procession will go by means of the capital’s political coronary heart of Nagatacho protecting landmarks such because the parliament constructing the place Abe had first entered as a younger lawmaker in 1993, after which the workplace from the place the previous premier led the nation in two stints, the longest being from 2012 to 2020, reported the information company.

Worldwide leaders paid their tributes together with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who halted in Japan on Monday morning to pay his respects to the chief throughout his Southeast Asia journey. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Taiwan vp William Lai additionally privately visited as household buddies.

French chief Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences in a video posted on Twitter after he visited the Japanese embassy in Paris. “I keep in mind all our conferences and work collectively, particularly throughout my go to (to Japan) in 2019 … I’ve misplaced a good friend,” mentioned a solemn Macron.

“He served his nation with nice braveness, and audacity.”

The suspected killer recognized as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami believed that Abe had promoted a non secular group to which his mom made a big donation and have become bankrupt, in accordance with Kyodo information company.

The Unification Church, recognized for its mass weddings and devoted following, mentioned on Monday the suspect’s mom was one in every of its members.