Members of the Japanese Imperial Family have been requested to be present for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, according to local media.
A source close to the Japanese Imperial Household Agency, which manages the Imperial Family’s agenda and communications, has told the Mainichi Shimbun that, once plans for the state funeral were approved, members of the Imperial family were sent a letter requesting their presence for the ceremony.
This happened on the 22nd of July, and, in line with tradition, the letter has asked for “Their Highnesses of the Imperial Family” to be present, which does not include the imperial couple nor the Emperor and Empress emeriti.
However, if previous instances are anything to go by, both couples will select emissaries to attend the ceremony on their behalf, as happened in 1967 for the funeral of Prime Minister Yoshida.
It is nonetheless expected that the Crown Prince and Princess will be heading the Imperial delegation at the ceremony, with that same source saying that “plans are being made to have Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and his wife Crown Princess Kiko attend the planned state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe”.
The state funeral will take place on the 27th of September in the Nippon Budokan Arena, in Tokyo’s Chioda Ward, a short 700 metres away from the Imperial Palace. The building is currently used as a multifunctional space, but it was originally built for the first judo Olympics in the 1964 Tokyo Summer Games.
The late Shinzo Abe died at 67 years of age on the 8th of July 2022, after being fatally shot in the neck and chest during a political rally in which he was supporting Key Sato, a fellow party member, in his bid to be reelected to his seat in the House of Councillors.
The late politician was given a private funeral on the 12th of July, but the respect he garnered during his four terms as Prime Minister prompted Japan’s government to immediately seek permission to offer a State funeral.
