Former Prime Minister Abe's state funeral will be held on the 27th.
This time's ′′ State Funeral ′′ is almost followed by the funeral contents of the past prime minister.
Flow of state funeral
▽ The "national funeral" will begin at 2:00 pm on the 27th, and after the remains of former Prime Minister Abe arrive at the venue, Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno, vice-chairman of the funeral committee, will give an opening speech.
▽ After the performance of the national anthem and a moment of silence, a video compiled by the government of Mr. Abe's activities during his lifetime will be shown.
▽ Next, in addition to Prime Minister Kishida, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hosoda, Speaker of the House of Councilors Otsuji, and Chief Justice Tokura of the Supreme Court, former Prime Minister Suga, who served as Chief Cabinet Secretary in the second Abe administration as a representative of his friend, gave a memorial service. I am to give a speech.
▽After that, the Emperor and Empress and the Emperor Emeritus and Empress will give a worship service, and the attendees will offer flowers.
What is a state funeral?
A state funeral is generally a state-sponsored funeral that is entirely funded by the state.
In Japan, from the Meiji Restoration to the end of the war, in addition to former prime ministers such as ▽
Hirobumi Ito and
▽ Aritomo Yamagata , ▽
Heihachiro Togo, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet during the Russo-Japanese War, and
▽ Pacific War Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, who died during the war, was
subject to state funerals.
Since the current Constitution came into force after the war, no laws have been enacted that stipulate specific eligibility and procedures for state funerals, and Shigemoto Yoshida was the subject of state funerals outside the Imperial Family. It was carried out based on a Cabinet decision by the Prime Minister alone, taking into account his achievements during his lifetime.
This is the second case in which a former prime minister is eligible for a state funeral.
State funeral abroad
The head of state is often the target of state funerals, for example, in the
United States, former presidents, and in the
United Kingdom, the royal family, such as Queen Elizabeth, who was held the other day.
However, in
England, the funerals of Newton, the scientist who discovered the law of universal gravitation, and
former Prime Minister Churchill, who led World War II to victory, were also held as national funerals.
Also, in
Jamaica, Bob Marley, known as "the god of reggae", and in
Brazil, Ayrton Senna, a legendary F1 driver who died in an accident during a race, are subject to state funerals.
What is the legal basis for state funerals?
Under the prewar Constitution of the Empire of Japan, there was an imperial decree called the State Funeral Order promulgated in 1926. It was stipulated that a state funeral would be held by the oboshi summons.
However, this state funeral order lost its effect when the current constitution came into effect, and since then, no laws have been enacted that stipulate specific eligibility and procedures for state funerals.
Former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida's "state funeral" in 1967 was based on the Cabinet decision that "the funeral will be held in the country and will be called the late Shigekuni Yoshida Funeral".
The state funeral this time also follows this, and the government has decided that the funeral will be held in the country and will be called the late Shinmitsu Abe funeral.
The government explains that ``state funerals'' do not limit the rights of citizens or impose obligations, so they can be implemented at the discretion of the administrative power.
The Act for Establishment of the Cabinet Office clearly stipulates that ``business related to national ceremonies'' is under the jurisdiction of the Cabinet Office. It is legally clear that a ``state funeral'' can be held.
On the other hand, some opposition parties have pointed out that ``the Cabinet Office establishment law does not have specific provisions regarding 'state funerals,' and the legal basis is not clear."
The government did not need to develop a new law that would directly serve as the basis for a "state funeral," as a result of the intersessional examination of the Diet that was held earlier. We will comprehensively consider various circumstances and make decisions on a case-by-case basis.”
The cost of this state funeral
Regarding the cost of "national funerals", the government explained in August that "as with funerals so far, we are assuming that general reserve funds will be used." The cabinet decided to spend 50 million yen.
The breakdown is
approximately 210 million yen for venue construction costs,
and approximately 30 million yen for venue and bus rental fees.
On the other hand, it does not include the cost of security around the area and the reception of foreign dignitaries, and the opposition parties have requested that an outline be shown before the Diet's intersessional review of the "state funeral."
For this reason, the government has already decided to spend about 250 million yen on September 6, and more than 1.4 billion yen will be required for security expenses and hospitality expenses for foreign dignitaries. He showed an estimate that the estimate would be about 1.66 billion yen.
About 800 million yen
for security expenses, about 600 million yen
for hospitality expenses for foreign dignitaries, and
about 10 million yen for renting vehicles used by the SDF guard of honor.
I expect.
[Security Expenses]
▽A total of about 500 million yen is expected to cover travel expenses for dispatching police officers from various places and subsidies from the government for overtime allowances.
While the expenses for the period before and after the state funeral are included, the part corresponding to the basic salary of the police is not included.
▽ It is said that it will cost about 300 million yen in total for renting a building for police officers to wait and renting a bus for transporting police officers to the scene.
[Reception expenses for foreign dignitaries]
▽ In addition to arranging vehicles during their stay, we expect to spend about 500 million yen in total for the reception system at the airport, building a communication and coordination system, and arranging simultaneous interpreters necessary for meetings.
▽ It is said that it will cost about 100 million yen as travel expenses to temporarily return the staff of the overseas diplomatic missions who will be treated.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) has argued that "the basic salaries of police officers paid by prefectures, which are not included in the cost estimates, should be announced in advance." It is a policy to correct the government side through deliberations in the Diet.
Expression of condolences
In carrying out the state funeral this time, the government did not approve the cabinet meeting requesting each ministry to raise a mourning flag and express condolences through a moment of silence.
In addition, we do not ask local governments or boards of education for cooperation in expressing condolences.
According to government officials, most of the funerals for former prime ministers that the government was involved in after the war, such as "joint funerals" by the Cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party, have been approved by the Cabinet to request government agencies to express their condolences. is an exceptional response.
The government aims to make it clear that it does not force the public to express political appreciation or condolence toward Mr. Abe.
On the other hand, on the day of the state funeral, based on the decision of Prime Minister Kishida, chairman of the funeral committee, each ministry and agency will raise a mourning flag and observe a moment of silence.
This is the first flower offering stand for the general public at Kudanzaka Park
On the day of the "national funeral", from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on the 27th, a flower offering stand for the general public will be set up at "Kudanzaka Park" near the venue Nippon Budokan.
On the other hand, the area of "Kitanomaru Park", which is surrounded by a moat and houses the Budokan, is prohibited from entering except for invited attendees and other related parties in order to thoroughly implement measures against infection with the new corona and security.
After the war, among the 11 funerals of former prime ministers held with the involvement of the government, the "joint funeral" of former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone's cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party, which was held two years ago, was not open to the public for the reason of infection control. No offering of flowers was made.
At the other 10 funerals, flowers were offered by general attendees in the venue, and this is the first time that a flower stand has been set up outside the venue.
At the "state funeral" of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida held in 1967, after the "state funeral" was over, general attendees offered flowers.
The number of attendees reached approximately 45,000 and was recorded to have lasted from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Funeral style for former prime ministers
Since the end of the war, there have been 11 funerals for former prime ministers with the involvement of the Cabinet, excluding Mr. Abe's state funeral.
[Funeral of Mr. Shigeru Yoshida] The funeral
of Mr. Shigeru Yoshida held in 1967 was held as a "national funeral" in consideration of his achievements in leading post-war reconstruction, and all expenses were covered by the national government.
However, after the "state funeral" was held, opposition lawmakers criticized one after another, saying, "The legal basis and standards for the state funeral are ambiguous."
[Funeral of Mr. Eisaku Sato]
Partly due to this influence, at the funeral of Mr. Eisaku Sato in 1975, although there were voices in favor of a "state funeral" due to his achievements such as winning the Nobel Peace Prize and the return of Okinawa, the Cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party, In addition, it was held in the form of a “national funeral,” which was jointly carried out by volunteers of the public who paid for it.
[Funeral of Mr. Masayoshi Ohira]
Furthermore, in 1980, at the funeral of Mr. Masayoshi Ohira, who died while in office as Prime Minister, it was carried out as a "Cabinet and Liberal Democratic Party Joint Funeral" by removing "National Volunteers" from "National Funeral".
The costs were borne by the Cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party.
[Funeral of Mr. Nobusuke Kishi/Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone]
After that, this "joint funeral" became established, and Mr. Nobusuke Kishi, the grandfather of former Prime Minister Abe, who was held in 1987, and Yasuhiro Nakasone who was held two years ago. His funeral was also held in this manner.
[Funeral of Mr. Takeo Miki]
However, regarding the funeral of Mr. Takeo Miki held in 1988, Mr. Miki's term of office as a member of the House of Representatives spanned more than 50 years, so the House of Representatives and the Cabinet were called "the House of Representatives and the Cabinet." It was carried out as a "communal funeral", and was fully funded by the national government.