Jul 20 (washingtonpost.com) - Japan is looking to hold a state funeral on Sept. 27 to honor former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated this month, Japanese news outlets reported Wednesday.
The event is expected to a be a major gathering of current and former world leaders, with dignitaries already making plans to attend to commemorate Abe, who worked to increase Japan’s image and influence globally and was the country’s longest-serving and most recognizable leader of the modern era.
Arrangements for a state funeral have sparked mixed reactions and criticisms of whether taxpayer money should be spent on the event, particularly for a leader who was domestically divisive.
It would be the second state funeral in postwar Japan since the 1967 death of Shigeru Yoshida, and a break from past practice in which ceremonies for former leaders have been jointly funded by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Japanese Cabinet. A state funeral would be fully taxpayer-funded. ...continue reading
Source: ANNnewsCH
