Japan's lawmakers are largely accepting or declining invitations to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's controversial state funeral based on their party’s relationship with the late politician, but there are individual exceptions in both the ruling and opposition parties.
The state funeral is expected to be attended by 6,000 people, including overseas VIPs, and cost up to ¥1.66 billion. It’s the first state funeral for a top Japanese leader since the one given to former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in 1967.
Opposition to the funeral, slated for Tuesday, remains strong for a number of reasons, including opposition parties' charges that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida did not sufficiently consult with parliament before making the decision to hold the event. There are also questions about whether Abe deserves a state funeral given revelations about his ties to the Unification Church.
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