Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe's State Funeral on September 27 at Nippon Budokan... Kishida Appointed Funeral Chairman

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot and killed during a campaign for the House of Councillors election on the 8th, will be held on September 27 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

The Japanese government decided this on the 22nd during a Cabinet meeting, according to reports from Kyodo News and others.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will serve as the funeral committee chairman, and all costs for the state funeral will be covered by the national treasury.

This is the first state funeral for a former prime minister in 55 years, since former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in 1967. Yoshida’s state funeral was also held at the Nippon Budokan.

There is also public criticism within Japan regarding the state funeral.

On the morning of the same day, hundreds of members of civic groups gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s Official Residence to hold a rally opposing the state funeral, Kyodo News reported. Voices at the rally included statements such as "This should be discussed in the National Diet. It is a violation of the Constitution to effectively force mourning."