Shinzo Abe: Japan Holds State Funeral for Former Prime Minister

The state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held at the Nippon Budokan martial arts hall in Tokyo. About 4,300 people attended, including 34 state leaders and 14 former heads of state, as well as representatives of the imperial family, including Crown Prince Akishino and his wife. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other government officials personally greeted the politician's widow, Akie Abe, who carried her husband's ashes during the funeral. As the ashes were being brought into the hall, the first of 19 blank artillery volleys from the self-defense forces were fired. A moment of silence followed.

Look at our photo gallery on how Japan pays tribute to the former prime minister.

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A portrait of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hangs on the stage during his state funeral, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, Tokyo. Abe was assassinated in July.

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Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida bows during the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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Members of the media film as Japan's late prime minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe leaves from the Abe residence for the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on September 27, 2022. (Photo by Kazuhiro NOGI / AFP)

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Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force personnel fire cannons at the Nippon Budokan grounds for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

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Japan's late prime minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe carries her husband's ashes during his state funeral in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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People pay their respects to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe outside the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, ahead of his state funeral later in the day.

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President of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrives the state funeral of assassinated former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe Tuesday Sept. 27, 2022, at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo.

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Attendants listen to the national anthem during the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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US Vice President Kamala Harris (C) attends the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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Japan's Crown Prince Akishino, second left, and other members of the Royal family attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (R) attends the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo on September 27, 2022. (Photo by Eugene Hoshiko / POOL / AFP)

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Musicians wait to play during the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving leader in his nation’s modern history, Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022, in Tokyo. Abe was assassinated in July. (Leah Millis/Pool Photo via AP)

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A woman cries during an interview after flower offering in a park near the Nippon Budokan ahead of the state funeral for former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.

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Police stand guard along a road leading to the Nippon Budokan, where the state funeral for Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe will take place, in Tokyo on September 27, 2022.