THE SQUIZ
PM Anthony Albanese is attending his 2nd big state funeral in 8 days – this time for former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe who was assassinated in July at 67yo. Former PMs John Howard, Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull will join him, all of whom worked with Abe during his relatively long run leading Japan. The funeral will begin at 3pm Aussie eastern time at Nippon Budokan (Tokyo’s big indoor arena), and about 6,000 people will attend the 90-minute ceremony. In line with tradition, senior members of Japan’s Imperial family won’t attend. We also won’t see a repeat of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral when it comes to world leaders attending, but US Vice President Kamala Harris, Indian PM Narendra Modi, and the leaders of Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam will be there.

WHY IS THIS A THING?
Well, Abe’s death was a big shock in a country where gun-related deaths are rare – and there is also some controversy about today’s funeral. In recent days, polls say more than half the country is not in favour of the event due to its cost. At an estimated $17.7 million, the funeral is more expensive than the Queen’s, which reports say set the UK back $13.9 million. The expenditure is being blamed on 3 factors: high levels of security, hosting foreign dignitaries over 3 days in what has been dubbed “funeral diplomacy”, and the company organising it has ties to an event that led to Abe being accused of cronyism in 2019. Like elsewhere in the world, Japan is battling inflation, and the government recently intervened to stop a significant fall in its currency for the first time in more than 2 decades. That means some critics say the money could be better used elsewhere.

SO IT’S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY?
No, others think Abe doesn’t deserve a state funeral based on his record in office, and that’s led to protests. So for a bit of context: the other state funeral held for a former leader was for Shigeru Yoshida in 1965. Critics say the honour ignores Abe’s links to the controversial Unification Church and his re-interpretation of Japan’s pacifist constitution. These days, Japan can exercise “collective self-defence” and join military action overseas – Abe’s supporters say this was necessary to protect Japan from an increasingly assertive China. PM Kishida has defended the decision to hold a state funeral saying Abe was Japan’s longest-serving leader and an “outpouring of condolences” from foreign leaders followed his murder. Albanese was one – he said Abe as “one of Australia’s closest friends on the world stage.”