[앵커]
The director general of former Prime Minister Abe, who was shot and killed in July, started a while back.
Prime Minister Han Deok-soo and other sympathizers from the Korean government also attended the event.
Contact Japan to learn more. Reporter Lee Kyung-ah!
[기자]
yes! Tokyo.
[앵커]
The crest started at 2pm.
How is it going?
[기자]
Yes. There was a moment of silence for the deceased in the Japanese Budokan where the national coat of arms was kept.
Then, an 8 minute video showing the life of the deceased was also screened.
The funeral service continues with Prime Minister Kishida, chairman of the funeral, and former Prime Minister Suga on behalf of friends.
The remains of former Prime Minister Abe stopped by the Ministry of Defense on the way to the Budokan.
He seems to have taken into account the fact that the Self-Defense Forces have advocated for strengthening their status, such as promoting constitutional reforms set out in the constitution.
A wreath stand was placed for general worshipers in front of the Budo-gwan before the ceremony.
I went to the site this morning.
Let’s listen to the words of the citizens who visited the scene in memory of the deceased.
[조문객 / 도쿄 시민 : 일본인으로서 여기에서 감사하다는 말을 전하고 싶어 왔습니다.]
[조문객 나라시 시민 : 저는 (아베 전 총리가 숨진) 나라시에 살고 있어요. 면목 없다고 말하고 싶어 왔습니다.]
[앵커]
What kind of people attended the head of state?
[기자]
About 4,300 people from inside and outside of Japan attended the Director General.
Prime Minister Han Duk-soo, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Jeong Jin-seok, Korean Ambassador to Japan Yoon Deok-min, and Central Chairman of the Korea-Japan Friendship Association Yoo Heung-soo visited the site to express their condolences to the Korean government .
In addition, there are about 700 sympathizers from abroad, including US Vice President Harris, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Albanis.
However, in terms of what is known as ‘director diplomacy’, it does not meet the expectations of the Japanese government as there are not many heads of state, including the leaders of the G7, to be present.
The director-general will be detained more than two months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during a campaign for the House of Representatives election in Nara City on July 8.
However, most of the opposition parties in Japan that have opposed the director have decided not to attend.
In preparation for this director, the Japanese police have entered the highest level of security posture, such as placing about 20,000 people in key facilities.
It is the second time in Japan that a director general has been awarded to a former prime minister after former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who died in 1967.
[앵커]
Opposition is more common around the head of state.
Is the opposition rally being held today?
[기자]
A large-scale protest against the director-general is currently underway in front of Japan’s National Assembly.
Before this, rallies were held in different places including Tokyo in the morning.
The matter of the old United Church was decisive for the mournful atmosphere to turn to opposition.
That’s because many LDP members, including former Prime Minister Abe, appear to have close ties to the old Unification Church, which was blamed for the shooting.
The cost of the director, which all comes under the government budget, was also criticized for reaching 16.5 billion won.
The question is whether it is necessary to spend these expenses in the midst of an economic crisis, which is almost seven times higher than the amount originally announced by the Japanese government.
As a symbol of Japan’s conservative right wing, former Prime Minister Abe, who was embroiled in various allegations of corruption during his tenure as prime minister, remains divided in political opinion.
Under such circumstances, the approval rating of the cabinet fell to the 20% level due to Prime Minister Kishida’s decision.
With the director-general’s result expected to stand for now, it remains to be seen whether the prime minister can restore public trust.
So far, this is YTN’s Kyungah Lee in Tokyo, Japan.
YTN Kyungah Lee (kalee@ytn.co.kr)
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