August 27, 2022

The Kishida Cabinet on August 26 decided to use nearly 250 million yen of taxpayer money to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in September. A state-funded funeral for a prime minister is only the second after the late Yoshida Shigeru in 1967 in postwar Japan.

The 250 million yen does not include the costs for security around the funeral hall as well as for the reception of overseas guests. The total costs will increase further.

Regarding this Cabinet decision, Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Koike Akira on the same day posted a comment on his Twitter account, "Many opinion polls show that the planned state funeral is not only dividing public opinion but facing growing public opposition. The Kishida government is, however, refusing to listen to public opinion and has decided to host the state funeral. I lodge a firm protest against it."

Past related articles:
> Cabinet decision on 'state funeral' conflicts with democracy and rule of law [July 26, 2022]
> JCP is opposed to 'state funeral' of ex-PM Abe [July 16, 2022]