Japan prepared on Tuesday to bid farewell to Shinzo Abe, who dominated Japanese politics for decades as the country’s longest-serving prime minister. Shot dead At an election rally last week.
Long queues of people dressed in black, in casual clothes, among others, as ordinary people, outside Jojoji Temple, Abe’s funeral site, in central Tokyo, outside the site of Abe’s funeral With backpacks, since morning. came to pay their respects.
They followed hundreds of people who entered the temple on Monday evening to pay tribute to Abe, who died at the age of 67. The killing of an unemployed man with a gun at his home on Friday shook a country that was both gun crime and political violence. are extremely rare.
Teacher Keiko Numi, 58, was one of those who had come to pray and offer flowers under the clouds to a large picture of Abe installed inside the temple grounds, which depicted him in a simple white shirt, dressed as his Laughing in his hands. his hips
“When he was the prime minister of the country, he had a sense of security,” he said. “I really supported him, so it’s very unfortunate.”
At 1 p.m. (0400 GMT) the ceremony is open to family and close friends only.
After the funeral, the chariot carrying Abe’s body would proceed through the city of Tokyo, where black mourning ribbons draped Japanese flags.
The procession will travel to Nagatacho, the capital’s political center, including landmarks such as the parliament building Abe first entered as a young parliamentarian in 1993, and the office from which he led the country in two terms as prime minister. From 2012 till now. 2020.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken received tributes from international leaders on Monday morning to express his respect on his way from Southeast Asia to the United States. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai, on a private visit as a family friend, joined mourners.
French leader Emmanuel Macron sent his condolences in footage posted on the country’s official president’s Twitter account after visiting the Japanese embassy in Paris.
“I remember all our meetings and work together, especially during my (Japan) visit in 2019… I lost a friend,” Macron said.
“He served his country with great courage and audacity.”
The Kyodo news agency quoted investigators as saying that the suspected killer, who was arrested at the scene and identified by police as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, believed Abe had promoted a religious group. , to which his mother had given “a huge donation.”
The Unification Church, known for mass weddings and loyal followers, said on Monday that the suspect’s mother was one of its members. Reuters could not determine whether the mother was related to any other religious organization.
Yamagami shot Abe from behind, taking two shots from a 40-cm-long (16-inch) improvised weapon wrapped with black tape. read more
Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a news conference on Tuesday that the Japanese government would consider whether handmade guns needed to be further regulated.
“We know that current regulations strictly prohibit firearms, whether hand-made or not,” he said.