Opposition Protests Across Tokyo on Abe's State Funeral Day: "Forced Refusal of Condolences"

Protest Held at Nippon Budokan and National Assembly by Director-General

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 27th, the day of the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, protests opposing the funeral were held in various parts of downtown Tokyo, the capital of Japan.

The "Executive Committee Opposing the State Funeral of Former Prime Minister Abe," a coalition of Japanese civic groups, held a large-scale protest rally related to Abe's state funeral in front of the Japanese National Diet around 2 p.m. that day.

The organizers explained the reason for holding the rally, stating, "The Kishida Cabinet is pushing forward with the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe despite public opposition," and added, "Forcing citizens to express condolences without legal grounds, which is a constitutional violation, to extend their own administration is unacceptable." The organizers estimated the number of participants at the rally to be around 5,000. The actual number of attendees has not yet been announced.

The state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe was held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo at the same time, with about 4,300 domestic and foreign guests in attendance.

Before the state funeral, at 11 a.m. that day, a rally was held in a park near the Nippon Budokan, hosted by the "Oppose the State Funeral! We Do Not Mourn Former Prime Minister Abe's Death! Joint Action," a coalition of multiple civic groups.

About 300 participants marched around the Nippon Budokan after the rally.

At noon that day, another protest rally opposing the state funeral, led by Japanese civic groups, was held at Hibiya Park. The organizers estimated that about 2,500 people participated in this rally.

After the rally, participants marched to Ginza, one of Tokyo's representative downtown areas, holding placards that read "Oppose the State Funeral" and "We Reject Forced Condolences."