Shinzo Abe: Japanese mourners pay last respects to ex-PM at funeral
12-07-2022, 12:26

Font size: [ A+ ] / [ A- ]

Mourners pay their respects to former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Tokyo to pay their last respects to ex-Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe.

A hearse bearing Abe's body made its way past several landmarks before arriving at the Kirigaya funeral hall in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo.

The private funeral, which was only open to friends and close family, took place at the Zojoji temple earlier.

The 67-year-old was shot dead last Friday while delivering a campaign speech in Nara in southern Japan.

Across Tokyo, flags are flying at half mast and outside the temple, a long line of mourners stretched over two blocks, many of them carrying bouquets of flowers.

Some stood with their heads bowed in prayer, some were in tears and others shouted "Thank you Abe" or "Goodbye Abe" as the motorcade drove past.

The late prime minister's widow and chief mourner, Akie Abe, sat in the front seat of the hearse which carried Abe's body.

Many mourners told the BBC that Abe gave them a sense of safety and security - one woman said that during the early days of Covid, she felt the Abe-led government had dealt with the crisis effectively.

The hearse went past the headquarters of Abe's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and made its way to the prime minister's residence, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other lawmakers received the motorcade.

It then passed by the parliament building, where Abe first entered as a lawmaker in 1993, before arriving at the funeral hall.

Abe was Japan's longest-serving post-war prime minister and one of its most influential politicians.

Police said the gunman targeted him due to grievances he had with a religious group that he believed Abe was a part of.

The attack sent shockwaves through a nation where incidences of gun violence are extremely rare.

A vigil held on Monday evening drew hundreds of dignitaries as well as thousands of ordinary Japanese citizens who came to lay flowers.

"I came here to offer flowers because I think he gave the Japanese something to be proud about," said Emi Osa.

Abe was delivering a campaign speech in support of a candidate for Japan's upper house election when he was shot twice.

Footage of the attack showed the gunman, 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, using a makeshift weapon made of metal and wood and held together by duct tape.

Abe suffered two bullet wounds to his neck and damage to his heart during the attack. He was said to be conscious and responsive in the minutes after the attack, but doctors said no vital signs were detected by the time he was transferred for treatment.

Police are still investigating what the gunman's motives were and whether he acted alone.

The shooting left Japan, a country unaccustomed to gun crimes and political violence, profoundly shaken. On average, there are fewer than 10 gun-related deaths in the country each year.

Guns are extremely difficult to acquire, and mandatory training, extensive background checks and psychological evaluation are required before permits are granted.

Abe's death drew an outpouring of shock from prominent world leaders, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemning the shooting as a "despicable attack".

US President Joe Biden called Prime Minister Kishida to express his "outrage, sadness and deep condolences", and called the assassination "a tragedy for Japan".

 

BBC

 

Comments: 760
#740   Wilhemina
      
References:


Mobile payid pokies australia atavi.com
13 September 2026 13:11
#739   Chauncey
      
References:


Payid pokies free spins payid
pokies sign up bonus
13 September 2026 05:47
#738   Dorthy
      
References:


Pokies payid accepted australia australian online casino payid pokies
13 September 2026 02:55
#737   Theda
      
References:


1 dollar deposit pokies payid aupeopleweb.com.au
13 September 2026 00:44
#736   Richelle
      
References:


Australian pokies that accept payid http://daojianchina.com/home.php?mod=space&uid=1428454
12 September 2026 23:12
#735   Jimmy
      
References:


Instant payid withdrawal pokies australia gjglm.com
12 September 2026 15:02
#734   Meri
      
References:


Online pokies real money payid 9youro.com
12 September 2026 14:59
#733   Olga
      
References:


Aussie pokies payid payid pokies app
12 September 2026 07:52
#732   Dick
      
References:


Minimum deposit payid pokies https://hedgedoc.rezo-rm.fr/nlOmdEWYRYmqvP8yP0HIgA
12 September 2026 05:29
#731   Clayton
      
References:


Direct bank transfer payid pokies aryba.kg
11 September 2026 14:19
#730   Chang
      
11 September 2026 12:43
#729   Darrell
      
References:


Direct bank transfer payid pokies online
casino payid pokies
10 September 2026 22:53
#728   Fran
      
References:


High roller payid pokies 4001179958.org
10 September 2026 09:24
#727   Marisa
      
References:


Fast withdrawal pokies australia payid 5 minimum
deposit pokies payid
10 September 2026 01:35
#726   Roma
      
References:


How to play pokies with payid http://www.fumankong1.cc/home.php?mod=space&uid=960966
8 September 2026 21:43
#725   Selma
      
References:


Bank wire withdrawal casino australia wire transfer withdrawal casino australia
4 September 2026 20:05
#724   Tory
      
4 September 2026 04:26
#723   Robert
      
4 September 2026 03:45
#722   Dee
      
References:


Online pokies australia payid real money kindheartsng.org
3 September 2026 22:00
#721   Betsy
      
References:


Bpay pokies real money bpay pokies withdrawal
3 September 2026 13:45
Add Comments

Name:*
E-Mail:
  Geo Keyboard  
 

Dear reader, guardian.ge welcomes your comments. Please express your views on topic and be respectful of others.

bold italic underline strike | align left centered align right | Ensert smilies insert linkInsert protected URL Choice the color | hidden text insert quote Convert selected text from transliteration to Cyrillic alphabet Insert spoiler

Code: *


Back1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ... 38Next