The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun
Kishida clarifies call to hold Abe state funeral
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sought understanding Sept. 8 in the Diet for the state funeral to be held for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pointing to Abe’s record tenure as prime minister as one of the reasons for the honor.
Kishida made his case during o -session deliberations at the Committee on Rules and Administration of the House of Representatives. It was the rst time for the prime minister to explain in the Diet the government’s decision to hold a state funeral for Abe.
e House of Councillors’ Committee on Rules and Administration also held such deliberations later in the day.
At the beginning of the committee session, Kishida cited four reasons for holding a state funeral: Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister at eight years and eight months; he had numerous achievements; many countries expressed condolences; and Japan needs to demonstrate its commitment to democracy, as Abe was killed during an election campaign.
“Given that many countries expressed their respect and condolences for Abe at the state level, holding a state funeral was deemed to be appropriate,” Kishida said.
e prime minister also said that through talks with foreign dignitaries who will visit Japan for the funeral, his government intends to “demonstrate both at home and abroad the will of our nation to carry on and develop the diplomatic legacy that Abe fostered.”
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno called on political parties to cooperate, saying, “We will make the funeral a solemn and heartfelt occasion.”
Ahead of the committee session, Matsuno told a press conference on Sept. 8 that U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and European Council President Charles Michel are currently scheduled to attend the funeral.
During the session, members of opposition parties, including Kenta Izumi, the leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, asked about the legal basis for the funeral and the validity of the cost estimates. e CDPJ has called for the state funeral to be changed to a “Cabinet funeral,” while urging the government to clarify the relationship between Abe and the Uni cation Church, which is formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Uni cation.
e government o cially decided on July 22, with Cabinet approval, to hold a state funeral for Abe. e event is scheduled to take place at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Sept. 27.
In addition to the heads of the judicial, legislative and executive branches of Japan’s government, former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will deliver a eulogy on behalf of Abe’s friends.
About 6,000 people, including Imperial family members, lawmakers and foreign dignitaries, are expected to attend.
e government estimates the costs, including security and reception expenses, at about ¥1.66 billion. (Sept. 9)