Some 4,500 mourners paid their respects Tuesday at a private funeral for former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, who died Sunday at a Tokyo hospital six weeks after he suffered a stroke and fell into a coma.
Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki and other political leaders offered flowers at the funeral held at Aoyama Memorial Hall, which was non-denominational according to Obuchi's wishes.
"My father placed importance on how the nation communicates with the world during his life as a politician," Obuchi's son Go said in a speech. "But he ran through his life too fast. I hope many people will take over his aspirations and realize them."
Mourners listened to parts of Obuchi's policy speech, which was delivered during the 145th and 147th Diet session. The excerpts revealed Obuchi's feelings for the nation and his determination to make July's Group of Eight summit in Okinawa a success.
Music that Obuchi cherished -- including a concerto by Russian composer Sergei Vassilievich Rachmaninoff and various piano pieces played by well-known pianist and family friend Hiroko Nakamura -- was also played at the funeral.
An official funeral will be held jointly by the Cabinet and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on June 8, from 2 p.m. at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo's Kudan district.