Kishida defends his decision to hold a state funeral for Abe

Tokyo, Sept. 8 (Jiji Press) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida defended his decision to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during parliamentary meetings on Thursday.

The decision was appropriate because Abe was the country’s longest-serving prime minister, Kishida said.

Referring to the criticism of the decision, he said: ‘I humbly accept it and will fulfill my responsibility to the public.’

It was the first opportunity for Kishida to explain the state funeral, scheduled for September 27, in parliament. Funeral attendees will include US Vice President Kamala Harris.

“While mourning Abe as a nation, the funeral is intended to show our determination to resolutely defend democracy without giving in to violence,” he said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]