A automotive carrying the physique of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe leaves Zojoji temple following his funeral on July 12, 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.
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TOKYO – With prayers, flowers and flags draped in black ribbons, Japan on Tuesday stated farewell to Shinzo Abe, a polarizing determine who dominated politics because the nation’s longest-serving premier, earlier than being gunned down at a marketing campaign rally final week.
Crowds packed pavements lined with a heavy police presence because the hearse carrying Abe departed from a central Tokyo temple in early afternoon. Individuals shouted, clapped and waved because it handed, with some holding flowers.
A whole bunch filed into the temple on Monday night and Tuesday morning to pay their respects to Abe, who died aged 67. His killing on Friday by an unemployed man wielding a do-it-yourself gun surprised a nation the place each gun crime and political violence are extraordinarily uncommon.
The funeral ceremony, restricted to household and shut pals, was closed to the media. Abe’s widow, Akie, was chief mourner.
The funeral procession was set to go by means of Tokyo, taking within the capital’s political coronary heart of Nagatacho and landmarks such because the parliament constructing Abe first entered as a younger lawmaker in 1993, after the demise of his politician father, and the workplace from which he led the nation in two stints as prime minister, the longer from 2012 to 2020.
From early morning, lengthy strains of individuals wearing black, combined with others in casual clothes with backpacks, shaped exterior the temple.
Keiko Noumi, a 58-year-old trainer, was one among many who got here to supply prayers and flowers to a big photograph of Abe arrange contained in the temple grounds exhibiting him in a easy white shirt, laughing along with his palms on his hips
“There was a way of safety when he was the prime minister accountable for the nation,” she stated. “I actually supported him, so that is very unlucky.”
Others queued in entrance of ruling Liberal Democratic Social gathering (LDP) headquarters to make choices at a makeshift shrine that might be in place till Friday. Social gathering staffers come out to supply chilly barley tea to mourners sweating within the sultry air.
Tributes have poured in from worldwide leaders, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken making a short cease en path to the USA from Southeast Asia on Monday morning to pay his respects. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Taiwan Vice President William Lai, on a personal go to as a household buddy, additionally joined mourners.
Almost 2,000 condolence messages arrived from nations all over the world, Kyodo information company stated.
‘GREAT COURAGE, AUDACITY’
French chief Emmanuel Macron despatched his condolences in footage posted on the nation’s official presidential Twitter account after he visited the Japanese embassy in Paris.
“I bear in mind all our conferences and work collectively, particularly throughout my go to (to Japan) in 2019 … I’ve misplaced a buddy,” stated a solemn Macron.
“He served his nation with nice braveness, and audacity.”
The suspected killer, arrested on the scene and recognized by police as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, believed Abe had promoted a non secular group to which his mom made a “big donation,” Kyodo information company has stated, citing investigators.
The Unification Church, identified for its mass weddings and devoted following, stated on Monday the suspect’s mom was one among its members. Reuters couldn't decide whether or not the mom belonged to every other non secular organizations.
Yamagami shot Abe from behind, unloading two photographs from a 16-inch improvised weapon wrapped with black tape.
Chief cupboard secretary Hirokazu Matsuno instructed a information convention on Tuesday that the Japanese authorities will think about whether or not there's a must additional regulate handmade weapons.
“We're conscious that present rules strictly limit firearms, whether or not handmade or not,” he stated.
Satoshi Ninoyu, head of the Nationwide Public Security Fee, instructed a Tuesday information convention he had directed that a group be established to analyze the safety state of affairs round Abe’s assassination.
“We take this incident extraordinarily severely,” he was quoted by the Nikkei Shimbun as saying.
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