TOKYO — The upcoming state funeral for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was billed as an opportunity to stand up for democracy after his assassination on the campaign trail. It has ended up dividing the public and threatening his successor’s agenda.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a one-time Abe Cabinet minister, is facing petitions, protests and court challenges to stop the Sept. 27 memorial service, which is projected to cost about 1.7 billion yen, or $12 million. Many in Japan were angered by Abe’s efforts to strengthen the military and the scandals that dogged his government. Moreover, the incident has exposed ties between the ruling party and a controversial South Korean church that the man accused of killing Abe blames for bankrupting his family.
Here’s how Kishida’s attempt to build unity in the wake of Abe’s death unraveled:
