Some 3,500 people paid their last respects at the funerals Saturday of two Japanese diplomats killed in an ambush in Iraq, with many sobbing as friends and colleagues of the two men offered eulogies.
Mourners made a long line before the Aoyama Memorial Hall, in Tokyo's Minato Ward, waiting to place flowers in front of images of Katsuhiko Oku, 45, and Masamori Inoue, 30.
Two rugby balls bearing hand-written messages, a uniform and a pair of rugby boots were placed on the coffin of Oku, who played the sport in his youth, while a photo album and "shochu" liquor were placed on that of Inoue.
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