The state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which has divided opinion over whether it should be held, takes place on the afternoon of the 27th at Nippon Budokan. Including more than 210 countries, regions and international organizations, attendance from Japan and abroad is on the order of 4,300. Around the Palaceside Building, close to the Budokan, police on tight security were conspicuous and the atmosphere was unlike a usual day.
It is the first postwar state funeral since that of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in 1967, 55 years ago. Because of wide traffic restrictions on the Metropolitan Expressway and ordinary roads around the Budokan, not a single car ran on the expressway as seen from the building from before noon (photo). At the florist on the first basement floor, several customers lined up before opening to buy flowers for offering.