What was the funeral of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, the first state funeral after the war, 55 years ago?

Looking at the images and materials from that time, it was found that more than 40,000 people visited to lay flowers, and that there were discussions about legal grounds and other issues afterward.

Looking at the images from that time

Former Prime Minister Yoshida's state funeral was held at Nippon Budokan on October 31, 1967, 11 days after his death, and NHK broadcast a relay program.



Looking at the digitized video of this program, you can see the movement of mourning flags and flags at half-mast in various places, and the appearance of a large number of people crowding Aoyama Street in the center of Tokyo to see off the funeral procession of cars.

Starting at 2:00 pm, a minute of silence will be held, and after that, you can also see how then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato gives a condolence address while occasionally looking up at the portrait of former Prime Minister Yoshida.

Then, the crown prince and his wife at the time and the current emperor and wife of the emperor laid flowers on the ceremony altar where the portrait of the deceased was displayed.



According to the official document "Shigekuni Yoshida Funeral Record" which records the circumstances at that time, about 170,000 people gathered along the road from former Prime Minister Yoshida's home in Oiso-cho, Kanagawa Prefecture to Nippon Budokan, about 8,000 people. It means that a security posture was taken.



The state funeral was attended by more than 6,000 people, including the then crown prince and his wife, representatives from various fields, and delegations from 72 countries.



After 3:00 p.m., general attendees offered flowers.



About 45,000 people attended the event, which lasted until around 7:00 pm.

deciphering official documents

The record of the late Shigekuni Yoshida Funeral also describes the discussions leading up to the holding of the funeral. By then, it is written that the pros and cons were examined from every angle.



In 1951, the ``Grand Funeral'' of Emperor Taisho and Empress Teimei was ``executed with the approval of the Cabinet.'' I concluded that I can do

On October 23, 1967, three days after Mr. Yoshida's death, the government made a cabinet decision on a state funeral.



At the state funeral, the government requested each ministry and agency to raise a mourning flag, pray silently, close in the afternoon, and refrain from holding events, as well as ask schools and companies to do the same.



According to the Cabinet Office, the total cost was about 18,040,000 yen, all of which was paid out of national reserve funds.

Later in parliament

On the other hand, an analysis of the records of the Diet shows that, after the state funeral, there was a brief discussion about legal grounds and other issues.



In 1968, at the House of Representatives Committee on Accounts Relations, an opposition lawmaker said, ``We cannot accept that the government has decided to hold state funerals on a whim, and we need standards.''



The Minister of Finance at the time said, ``As you know, there is no legal basis for national funerals. It will disappear," he said, referring to the need for standards.



In addition, in response to the question at the Cabinet Committee of the House of Councilors in 1969, "Isn't it necessary for the Diet to decide on the standards for state funerals?" I am replying.



However, eight years later, in 1977, the then Chief of Internal Affairs and Communications said, ``When Prime Minister Yoshida passed away, it was decided by the Cabinet, so the idea that the state funeral should be held by Cabinet decision rather than by law. I have," he said, indicating that there is no problem with the Cabinet decision.