World leaders, including Narendra Modi and Kamala Harris will fly to Tokyo to attend the slain Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's funeral. Both Modi and Harris will meet current Japanese PM Fumio Kishida and other world leaders.
Japan, however, is divided over the event itself-- a state funeral. There is strong public opposition to the state funeral. About 700 people from overseas, including 50 former and current world leaders will be in attendance. Other world leaders expected to attend are Australia's PM Anthony Albanese and Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong
Public opposition against the funeral strengthened after a man set fire to himself in front of PM Kishida's office on September 21. On Monday around 10,000 protestors took to the streets of Tokyo demanding that the funeral be called off.
The person suspected to have shot Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, told investigators that he targeted the politician due to his connections to the Unification church. The church was founded in South Korea in 1954. Of the 379 lawmakers of the ruling party surveyed, it was found that about half of them had some connection with the Unification church.
More torrent revelations about ties between the Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church strengthened opposition against the funeral. The Unification Church is known for its mass weddings and aggressive fundraising. Post disturbing revelations of links between the church and the Liberal Democratic Party, a spokesperson for the church has apologised for any trouble it may have caused and promised a quick response to complaints or requests for donation refunds.
State funerals are usually reserved for members of the Imperial family. Since World War II, only one politician has been honoured with a state funeral in 1967. Abe being given a state funeral is a big deal. In part, it is because Abe was one of the longest-serving prime ministers' and because he was shot down while at an election rally. Abe's ratings in opinion polls might have been low, but, few would deny that he brought the country stability and security.
