Japan's slain PM Shinzo Abe's state funeral cost becomes a flashpoint for public anger, here's why

Former Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, had a grand funeral that cost around 1.66 billion Yen approximately. But the cost was more than that of the Queen’s state funeral on September 19, 2022. This matter has raised several questions amongst many people and is also highlighted.

Why is it expected that the Japanese state funeral cost was more than the Queen’s?
According to the news, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics ended up costing around $13 billion - double the total budget estimated for the event.


So, if such a big event has cost this high amount, then possibly the state funeral of the ex-prime minister, Shinzo Abe, might have cost about 1.66 billion Yen. Another possible theory that came into the limelight was the involvement of companies. These companies are responsible for organizing and conducting major state events, including the Olympics.

The Tokyo-based company that won the bidding for organizing the state funeral of Abe was Murayama. It won the bid for a contract that resulted in 176 million Yen. However, several concerns were raised when the news spread like wildfire because it was the same company that Abe chose to host an annual cherry blossom event and was later accused of cronyism. When Kyodo news agency arranged for a poll in Japan, 70% of people responded about the government allotting high costs for the state funeral.

Before the state funeral was organized on Tuesday, diplomats and representatives from 217 countries arrived in Japan to meet Fumio Kishida, the current prime minister of Japan. Some notable figures who attended the funeral were Narendra Modi, Kamala Harris, and Anthony Albanese.

What did the Japanese have to say about the Queen’s funeral?
Many Japanese had also expressed how Queen’s funeral attracted more visitors worldwide to London. The visitors included state heads of most European countries and several others worldwide. Also, the affection displayed towards the Queen was much more than what was experienced in Japan.

Although Abe was the longest-serving prime minister and the second Japanese PM to get a state funeral, the ambiance was not that of Britain. The first state funeral was organized around 55 years ago for Japanese prime minister Shigeru Yoshida.
FAQs
Q. What was the reaction of the Japanese to the state cost?
A. As the funeral cost so much, the Japanese said that the money would have been put into something better, especially when Japan was experiencing one of the dire inflation periods.

Q. What was special at the Queen’s funeral?
A. The display of affection made Queen’s funeral more special even when its cost was much less than that of the state funeral of Abe.