A rally was held to oppose the "state funeral" of former Prime Minister Abe, and the leaders of the opposition parties appealed, "We must not allow a state funeral that effectively forces the intention of mourning."
Members of the Constitutional Democratic Party, the Communist Party, and the Social Democratic Party attended the rally held in front of the Diet on the evening of the 19th.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party, Fukushima, said, "It is a big mistake to think that everything can be decided by the Cabinet in the absence of a legal basis. Let's withdraw the Cabinet decision."
In addition, Tomoko Abe, a member of the House of Representatives of the Constitutional Democratic Party, said, ``Sending former Prime Minister Abe with a state funeral is nothing but to continue with the fact that a society that is difficult to live in has been created.''
Furthermore, Taku Yamazoe, a member of the House of Councilors of the Communist Party, appealed, ``We must not open the Diet and force a state funeral without an explanation to the public, effectively forcing the will of the mourner.''
About 1,200 people attended, according to the civic group that organized the rally.