Shinzo Abe Funeral Highlights: Japanese say final goodbye to former PM Shinzo Abe at funeral

Japan on Tuesday bid farewell to Shinzo Abe, a towering figure who dominated Japanese politics for decades as the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister, before being gunned down at a campaign rally last week. Thousands gathered outside Tokyo’s Zojoji temple as a private funeral was held inside. Later, a motorcade carrying the hearse to a funeral home left the Buddhist temple, as per local media reports.

Abe was shot dead while speaking at an election campaign in western Japan’s Nara city on Friday. The public shooting had drawn condemnation from leaders around the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had termed Abe a friend and announced a day’s mourning as a mark of respect.

The suspected killer was arrested at the scene and identified by police as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami. Media reports said that Yamagami is an ex-military member. He believed Abe had promoted a religious group to which his mother made a “huge donation”, reported Kyodo news agency, citing investigators. The Unification Church, known for its mass weddings and devoted following, said on Monday the suspect’s mother was one of its members.