The funeral of Chikage Ogi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House of Councillors and who died on the 9th of this month, was held in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 27th, and many attendees mourned his death.
Chikage Ogi, who was active in the Takarazuka Revue as an actor, was elected to the House of Councillors five times, served as Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Speaker of the House of Councillors, died of cancer at the age of 5 at a hospital in Tokyo on May 9.
Mr. Ogi's funeral was held at noon on the 27th at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo's Minato Ward, and was attended by Prime Minister Kishida, Speaker of the House of Councillors Otsuji, singer and actor Yuzo Kayama, and other political and entertainment figures.
Former Prime Minister Koizumi, who served as Prime Minister when Ms. Ougi was Speaker of the House of Councillors and Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, said in his condolence address, "The path that I have paved for aiming for a society where women can play an active role has been paved by my juniors.
Mr. Ogi's eldest son, fourth-generation Kabuki actor Nakamura Kojiro, said, "It was a life I ran through as an actress, politician, and mother, and I am sure that I will be happy to be by my father's side, who passed away three years ago."
Prior to the funeral, the car carrying Mr. Ogi's remains went around the National Diet Building, which was the stage of his political activities, on the morning of the 3th, and many members of the Diet said goodbye.