Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, and his Cabinet ministers prepare to attend a July 22 meeting where approval was given for a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Koichi Ueda)

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida moved quickly to lay the groundwork for a state funeral for Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister gunned down July 8 while giving a campaign speech in Nara.

Just days after Kishida led his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to victory in the July 10 Upper House election, he instructed associates to look into the feasibility of holding a state funeral for Abe as no law exists that clearly defines how such proceedings should be conducted.

He swung into action after Abe’s bereaved family held their own funeral and lines of mourners formed in front of LDP headquarters in Tokyo to offer flowers to the fallen lawmaker, who held the record for the longest term in office as prime minister.

Since Masayoshi Ohira died in 1980, the traditional practice for deceased former prime ministers was to hold a funeral jointly organized by the Cabinet of the time and the LDP.

But Kishida felt something more elaborate was needed in light of Abe’s stature and achievements and because of the extraordinary circumstances of his death. At the same time, some government officials were concerned about a possible administrative lawsuit over the use of government funds to pay for a state funeral.

A report was submitted by the Cabinet Legislation Bureau which pointed to a law enacted in 2001 to establish the Cabinet Office. That law was used as the basis for the government organizing state ceremonies, such as those that are held when a new emperor ascends the Chrysanthemum Throne.

Similar reasoning would allow the Cabinet to approve holding of a state funeral, according to the Cabinet Legislation Bureau report.

When Kishida was told the event could be held by the government, he announced July 14 that a state funeral would indeed be held for Abe.

A number of reasons caused Kishida to rush to make the announcement.

One was the time needed to prepare security arrangements for the foreign representatives expected to attend the service to be held in Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan hall.

In Abe’s close to nine years as prime minister, he formed close ties with many leaders and foreign dignitaries. In light of that, Kishida felt it would take time to set up the appropriate procedures.

Kishida also told associates that holding a state funeral would lead to raising of the status of the foreign representatives coming to Japan to pay their respects. Having so many VIPs in Japan at the same time would allow Kishida to put his own personal touch on the interactions.

Conservative elements within the LDP who had clamored for a state funeral were delighted that Kishida moved so swiftly on the issue.

However, public opinion polls show there is opposition to holding a state funeral.

With the Kishida Cabinet on July 22 defining the state funeral as a state ceremony, it has established a precedent that will allow Cabinets to decide to hold state funerals in the future.

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