Japan Not to Ask Ministries to Express Condolences for Abe

Tokyo, Aug. 26 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese government has decided not to request its ministries to express condolences for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sept. 27, when it will hold a state funeral for him, an official said Friday. "The government will refrain from giving cabinet approval (to such a request) to avoid any misunderstanding that it is urging each and every citizen to offer condolences," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference. The unusual decision reflected divided public opinion over whether a state funeral should be held for Abe, gunned down during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara on July 8. For past funerals for former prime ministers, the government made such requests. Also for the funeral for Abe, the central government will not seek cooperation from related entities, local governments or local education boards to express condolences on the day of the ceremony, according to Matsuno. But he stopped short of clarifying whether a moment of silence will be observed individually at each government entity, only saying that details are being considered. When a state funeral was held in 1967 for former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, the cabinet approved a request that government organizations raise mourning flags and offer silent prayers. Similar cabinet approval was also given over the 2020 funeral of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone held jointly by the cabinet and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. END