U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit Japan to attend the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scheduled for Sept. 27, sources in the Japanese government told The Yomiuri Shimbun. If realized, it will be her first visit to Japan since taking office.
It is significant that the vice president will attend the ceremony in place of President Joe Biden, whose has a scheduling conflict.
As Abe made efforts to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, including enacting security-related laws, the Biden administration aims to show its appreciation for the former prime minister's diplomatic achievements and underscore the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship.
