TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) – With prayers, flowers and flags wrapped in black ribbons, Japan on Tuesday bid farewell to Shinzo Abe, a polarizing figure who dominated politics as the country’s longest-serving prime minister, before be shot down in a campaign rally. last week.
Crowds filled the sidewalks with a strong police presence as Abe’s hearse left a central temple in Tokyo in the early afternoon. People shouted, applauded and greeted as he passed, with some holding flowers.
Hundreds of people showed up at the temple Monday evening and Tuesday morning to pay their respects to Abe, who died at age 67. His murder on Friday by an unemployed man wielding a homemade pistol shocked a nation where both gun crime and political violence are extremely rare. Read more
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The funeral, limited to family and close friends, was closed to the media. Abe’s widow, Akie, was the main mourner.
The funeral procession was to pass through Tokyo, passing through the political heart of the capital, Nagatacho, and landmarks such as the Parliament building where Abe first entered as a young legislator in 1993, following the death of his father. politician, and the office from which he headed. the nation in two terms as prime minister, the longest from 2012 to 2020.
From early in the morning, long rows of people dressed in black formed outside the temple, mingling with others in casual clothes with backpacks.
Keiko Noumi, a 58-year-old teacher, was one of many who came to offer prayers and flowers to a large photograph of Abe installed inside the temple grounds showing her in a simple white shirt, laughing at the hands on hips.
“There was a sense of security when he was the prime minister in charge of the country,” he said. “I really supported him, so that’s very unfortunate.”
Others lined up in front of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters to make offerings at an makeshift shrine that will be in place until Friday. Party staff come out to offer cold barley tea to the bad guys who sweat in the stifling air.
International leaders have arrived at the tributes, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken making a brief stop on the way to the United States from Southeast Asia on Monday morning to pay their respects. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Taiwan Vice President William Lai on a private visit as a family friend also joined in the mourning. Read more
Nearly 2,000 messages of condolence came from nations around the world, the Kyodo news agency said.
“GREAT COURAGE, BOLDNESS”
French leader Emmanuel Macron has sent his condolences in images posted on the official Twitter account of the country’s presidency after visiting the Japanese embassy in Paris.
“I remember all our meetings and we worked together, especially during my visit (to Japan) in 2019 … I lost a friend,” a solemn Macron said.
“He served his country with great courage and audacity.”
The alleged killer, detained at the scene and identified by police as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, believed Abe had promoted a religious group to which his mother made a “huge donation,” the news agency said. Kyodo, citing researchers.
The Unification Church, known for its mass weddings and loyal followers, said Monday that the suspect’s mother was one of its members. Reuters could not determine if the mother belonged to any other religious organization. Read more
Yamagami shot Abe from behind, unloading two shots from a 40-cm-long (16-inch) makeshift weapon wrapped in black tape. Read more
Cabinet Secretary-General Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference on Tuesday that the Japanese government will consider whether it is necessary to further regulate handmade weapons.
“We are aware that current regulations strictly restrict firearms, whether they are handmade or not,” he said.
Satoshi Ninoyu, head of the National Public Security Commission, said at a news conference Tuesday that he had ordered a team to be set up to investigate the security situation surrounding Abe’s assassination.
“We take this incident very seriously,” the Nikkei Shimbun said.
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Additional reporting by Akiko Okamoto, Kohei Miyazaki, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Ju-min Park; Written by Elaine Lies; Edited by Kenneth Maxwell
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