Mounting Contention Over State Funeral for Slain Abe Shinzo

Indeed, the snap decision to hold a state funeral for Abe has many raising their eyebrows. A group of academics and lawyers has even filed a lawsuit claiming the Cabinet bypassed the Diet when it approved the state funeral [10]. Another group filed an injunction on similar claims, which the Tokyo Court ultimately rejected [11]. Shimada speculates Kishida saw his chance to capitalize on the shocking manner of Abe’s death and immediately began plans for a state funeral. He points out that funerals in the corporate and yakuza worlds provide the perfect opportunity for successors to elevate their social standing. How smoothly someone carries out a predecessor’s funeral goes a long way toward establishing respect and social credibility. With many domestic and foreign politicians expected to attend Abe’s funeral, it’s not too much of a stretch to imagine Kishida banking on a similar outcome.

Too Late for National Mourning?

Unification Church ties aside, time is another factor that could potentially dampen the funeral’s impact. Abe’s private funeral took place on July 12, four days after his death. Mourners flocked the streets outside Zojoji Temple to bid farewell as the hearse bearing his body drove away. But if the government wants the people’s financial and emotional investment, their hopes may be in vain.

Shimada points out that most state funerals took place days after someone’s death, but Abe’s is scheduled roughly two and a half months after his death. Since Abe has already been buried, this won’t be a typical state funeral, another point of contention for many. Regardless, expecting people to harbor their grief for that long is a tall order. With more information regarding the Unification Church coming to light, that span of time leading up to September 27 could become a breeding ground for more dissent and scathing critiques of Abe and the LDP. Evidently, what the people want isn’t mourning, but transparency and accountability.

Sources

1. 【速報】安倍元総理の国葬 「反対」45%で「賛成」42%を上回る　JNN世論調査. JNN.

2. 安倍元首相の国葬を9月27日に行うと閣議決定、あなたの意見は？. Yahoo! Japan News.

3. 「国葬うちらは求めてない！」　「選挙ギャルズ」ら約110人が東京都心でパレード. Tokyo Web.

4. 「理由が見当たらない」安倍元総理『国葬』反対デモ　約1200人が参加. TV Asahi via Yahoo! News Japan.

5. 旧統一教会巡り7閣僚交代、防衛相に浜田氏　第2次岸田改造内閣が発足. Reuters.

6. 安倍氏国葬「反対」４７％　旧統一教会解明「必要」７７％―時事世論調査. Jiji.

7. 安倍氏の国葬は「死の政治利用」と専門家。明治以降の歴史から読み解く、政府関与の“公葬”の危うさ. Huffpost JP.

8. Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 2, 1878. Office of the Historian.

9. [これが安倍元首相の国葬が結構もめる原因ー時期があまりに遅すぎる. Gendai.

10. Group files lawsuit seeking to stop Abe’s state funeral. NHK World.

11. Tokyo court rejects request to halt state funeral for ex-PM Abe. Mainichi Shinbun.