TOKYO, Sept 21, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - A state funeral for assassinated former
prime minister Shinzo Abe has become a lightning rod for controversy,
prompting demonstrations and even an apparent act of attempted self-
immolation.

But why has the September 27 funeral become such a hot-button issue?

How was Abe assassinated?

Abe was shot dead on July 8 by a gunman in the Nara region as he campaigned
for his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

His suspected murderer reportedly resented the Unification Church because his
mother had made hefty donations to the sect, and believed Abe was linked to
the group.

A private funeral for Abe was held in Tokyo, attended by friends and family.
Thousands lined the streets nearby to offer prayers and flowers.

Why a state funeral?

Japan has only held one other state funeral for a former prime minister in
the post-war period, that of Shigeru Yoshida in 1967.

But Abe was Japan's longest-serving prime minister and the country's best-
known politician, both at home and abroad.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said a state funeral will allow
international leaders to offer condolences and show "Japan will not give in
to violence".

The event is set for September 27 at Tokyo's storied Budokan venue, with US
Vice President Kamala Harris and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
among the leaders expected to attend.

What was the reaction?

Controversy about the decision erupted quickly, with opposition politicians
arguing Kishida was overstepping his powers by approving the funeral.

"He thought the cabinet has the right to decide on what kind of events it
holds," Yoshinobu Yamamoto, professor emeritus of international politics at
the University of Tokyo, told AFP.

"But there is no formal system in Japan that defines state funerals. So what
the opposition says is that his government has to seek parliamentary approval
after debate."

Polls have shown opposition growing steadily.

National broadcaster NHK found 38 percent of respondents were against the
plan in July, but by August that figure had grown to 57 percent.

Why are people opposed?

Yamamoto says the funeral has become controversial for two main reasons:
"questions around Kishida's decision-making... (and) the issues around the
Unification Church and its links to the LDP."

After Abe's death, the LDP revealed around half its members had links to the
controversial sect, whose followers are sometimes dubbed "Moonies" after the
group's founder Sun Myung Moon.

Kishida has vowed the party will sever all links, but the revelations and
renewed scrutiny of the church have dented his government's popularity.

Abe was also far from universally popular in Japan, despite his record-
breaking tenure.

His nationalist views and persistent allegations he was involved in cronyism
engendered deep-seated antipathy towards him.

"He is seen as the nemesis" by some in Japan, said Kazuhisa Kawakami, a
political psychology professor at Reitaku University.

"His state funeral is, in a way, used by his political foes as a weapon to
galvanise their bases."

Does cost play a role?

The funeral will cost around 1.7 billion yen ($12 million), according to the
government.

That is vastly more than the initial 250 million yen figure mooted by the
government, which excluded costs for security and hosting foreign
dignitaries.

"That didn't give a good impression in terms of transparency, either," said
Yamamoto.

Kishida has acknowledged the discontent about the funeral and answered
questions during a televised special session of parliament, but polls show he
has done little to move the needle.

However, with invitations also sent out and security operations under way,
"cancellation is not an option," Yamamoto added.