Japanese say final goodbye to assassinated former leader Shinzo Abe
Published:Tuesday | July 12, 2022 | 12:37 PM
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese bid their final goodbye to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday as his funeral was held at a temple days after his assassination shocked the nation.
Abe, the country's longest-serving prime minister, remained influential even after stepping down two years ago for health reasons.
He was gunned down Friday during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.
Hundreds of people, some in formal dark suits, filled sidewalks outside Zojoji temple in downtown Tokyo to bid farewell to Abe, whose nationalistic views drove the governing party's conservative policies.
Mourners took photos and some called out “Abe san!” as a motorcade with the hearse carrying his body accompanied by his widow, Akie Abe, slowly drove by the packed crowd.
“I believe there were many things he left unfinished as a politician,” public broadcaster NHK quoted Akie Abe as saying.
“But he planted many seeds and I'm sure they will sprout.”
Abe's long-time ally and mentor, Finance Minister Taro Aso, described him as “the most talented politician in postwar Japan who raised Japan's international profile.”
About 1,000 people, including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, governing party leaders and foreign officials, attended the funeral at the temple.
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