A week ago, world leaders gathered in London for the state funeral of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.Now, many of them are heading to the other side of the world for another state funeral – this time for Japan’s slain former prime minister Shinzo Abe.
But the Japanese people appear to be less than thrilled about the event, which is estimated to cost $11.4 million. In the last few weeks, opposition to the state funeral has been growing, and polls suggest that more than half of the country’s population is now against holding it.
There are a number of reasons why the state funeral for Shinzo Abe is so controversial. For one, many Japanese people feel that the cost is simply too high, especially considering the country’s current economic situation.
There are also concerns that the state funeral could be used as a political tool by the ruling party. Some worry that it could be used to boost support for the party in the lead up to elections, or to push through controversial legislation.
Finally, there is the question of whether a state funeral is appropriate for someone who was only in office for a short time. Shinzo Abe served as prime minister for less than two years before he was assassinated in 2006.
Given all of these concerns, it’s no surprise that the state funeral for Shinzo Abe is proving to be controversial. It remains to be seen whether the event will go ahead as planned, or if public opinion will force a change of course.
