Mourners get a glimpse of the hearse carrying the coffin of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following his funeral at Zojoji temple in Tokyo on July 12, 2022. Abe was fatally shot during upper house election campaigning in Nara on July 8. (Photo by Kyodo News/Sipa USA)
Japan: Condolences over ex-Japan PM Abe’s death
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese have bid their final goodbye to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a family 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. Hundreds of people filled sidewalks outside Zojoji temple in downtown Tokyo to bid farewell to Abe. Some called out “Abe san!” as a motorcade with the hearse slowly drove by the packed crowd. Only close family members and senior governing party leaders including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attended the funeral.
