Plan for Shinzo Abe state funeral faces growing opposition

Protesters hold a rally outside the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Friday against the decision to hold a state funeral for Shinzo Abe. Photograph: 細島啓輔/AP

Opposition is mounting to plans to hold a state funeral for the former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot dead earlier this month.

The cabinet on Friday approved arrangements for the funeral – only the second of its kind for a former Japanese leader in the postwar period – on 27 September.