Abe state funeral draws world leaders, divides Japan: What to know

Ceremony for ex-PM will take place on Tuesday amid strong opposition

20220926 abe funeral

Mourners gather at Tokyo's Zojoji Temple to pay respects to slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 12, days after he was shot while campaigning. A state funeral will be held on Sept. 27. © Reuters

KENTARO IWAMOTO and SAYUMI TAKE, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- The state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot dead during an election campaign speech in July, will take place in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Abe will be only the second postwar prime minister to be honored with such a funeral. But plans for the memorial sparked widespread public opposition, as questions swirled over ruling party politicians' ties with a controversial religious group.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.