Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2022 September 14 - 20 TOP3 [POLITICS]

13K people rally in opposition to ex-PM Abe's 'state funeral'

A rally took place in opposition to the unconstitutional "state funeral" for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park on September 19 with about 13,000 people participating.

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan member of the House of Representatives Abe Tomoko, Social Democratic Party Leader Fukushima Mizuno took part in the rally. Iha Yoichi of the Upper House political group "Okinawa Whirlwind" sent the rally a message in solidarity. JCP Secretariat Head Koike Akira joined the demonstration march following the rally.

Shii said that more than 60% of respondents in opinion polls oppose the tax-funded funeral and this proves that the holding of the funeral has no justification. He criticized the pressure exerted on the general public to express "respect" or offer "condolences" to Abe in the funeral for violating the Japanese Constitution.

Shii pointed out that Abe was a ultra nationalist who railroaded through the war laws, widened social inequalities, increased poverty, used taxpayer money for his own interests, and played a role as a "walking billboard" for the Moonies. He called on the protesters to amplify their voices of opposition to the state funeral.

Past related articles:
> JCP Chair Shii: I won't attend 'state funeral' for ex-PM Abe [September 9, 2022]
> Budget for ex-PM Abe's 'state funeral' will total \1.66 billion [September 7, 2022]