A controversial act of mourning has begun in Japan for the murdered ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Under massive security measures, about 4,300 mourners from home and abroad gathered in Tokyo on Tuesday for the rare state act. Austria is represented by the ambassador in Tokyo, Elisabeth Bertagnoli. Other countries such as South Korea, India or Australia sent the heads of government; US Vice President Kamala Harris will participate.
Accompanied by cannon shots, Abe’s widow Akie, dressed in a black kimono, entered the Nippon Budokan martial arts hall with her husband’s urn. There the mourners took place in front of a large portrait of the murdered former prime minister with black ribbons.
In a nearby park, countless people laid flowers and bathed at two stalls early in the morning. However, the act of mourning also sparked furious protests – because of the cost and because Abe was not uncontroversial as a politician. About 20,000 police officers were mobilized.
Shot during campaign
Abe was shot dead on July 8 during a campaign speech in Nara. The killer had stated that he killed the right-wing conservative out of hatred for the controversial Moon cult (Mun sect). The Moon sect, known for its conservative and anti-Communist sentiments, with which Abe was associated, had ruined his mother financially and devastated the family.
Majority against act of mourning
In polls, a majority rejected the funeral act for Abe. While Japan’s longest-serving prime minister is regarded the world over as a creditable statesman, Abe’s nationalist agenda and several scandals of favoritism are controversial among his own people.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
