Shinzo Abe funeral Live Updates: PM Modi pays ‘tribute to great visionary’

The funeral ceremony now stands concluded.

The remaining rows of attendees are making their way to the altar to bow and pay their final respects as the ceremony is coming to a close. Abe's personal family, including his wife Akie, is still seated in the first row.

During the State Funeral at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe received tributes from PM Modi. "A tribute to a great visionary and to his immense contribution in the elevation of the India-Japan partnership," the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted.

Thousands of people, many of whom sobbed, laid flowers at a memorial honouring Abe that had been erected outside the arena. At one time, the line was nearly 1.7 kilometres long.

Foreign dignitaries were allowed to place bouquets of white flowers at the altar as a final act of farewell. The invited guests, including US vice president Kamala Harris, have been receiving flowers from officials carrying trays filled with bunches of flowers. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were other significant attendees at the occasion.

Among many other world leaders, PM Modi offered flowers to the late former prime minister of Japan.

Japanese Imperial House representatives presented prayers and tributes. Several family members, including Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko came to the altar and offered flowers while wearing mourning black attire.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga hailed Abe's accomplishments as a politician in his speech, praising him for his work with North Korea and for leading the effort to get Japanese citizens who had been kidnapped. He also praised Abe's initiative in negotiating international agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Prominent party officials and senior lawmakers, including the leaders of the House of Representatives and House of Councilors, made brief speeches. Before going to the altar to pay respects, they made a bow to Abe's family who were seated to the right of the arena. Speaking at the event was Yoshihide Suga, the former prime minister who replaced Abe in 2020.

Shinzo Abe received a eulogy from Fumio Kishida. He approached the altar's front and took a position in its centre, facing the enormous Shinzo Abe image that was suspended above it. As he spoke, he frequently turned to face the image of Abe.

US Vice President Kamala Harris is one of the world leaders to attend Shinzo Abe's funeral.

A true nationalist, Shinzo Abe pushed Japan into a strong defensive position that many today regard as foresightful in light of the rising anxiety about China, while others criticised it as being overly hawkish.

A video montage of Shinzo Abe’s activities was shown on the giant screen. While showing Abe giving speeches and meeting people, it also showed Abe playing the piano with ease. In fact, the tune of the piano played by the late Japanese PM was used in the background throughout the video.

The ashes, housed in a ceremonial urn, have been given to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He then presented it formally to the military officials, who set the box in the middle of the altar that was erected at the front of the chamber.

The state of Japan has received the urn from Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe.

From 2012 to 2019, there were 8.4 million more visitors to Japan than there were in 2012. Only 12% of individuals were from Europe and North America, with the rest from other Asian nations. The liberalisation of visa rules under the Shiinzo Abe government is credited with sparking a tourism boom that increased GDP by 1%.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese are attending the state funeral at Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo.

Prior to Shinzo Abe's state funeral, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. Kishida was informed by Albanese that it was "important" for Australia to express its condolences to Japan in the wake of the passing of Abe, well-known for his role in creating the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).

On July 8, Shinzo Abe was shot and killed while making a stump speech for his party at a political gathering in the western Japanese city of Nara. The world was stunned by the death of Japan's longest-serving prime minister because political violence and violent crime in general are uncommon in Japan. Authorities now acknowledge that the assassination was facilitated by security vulnerabilities.

The ceremony will begin at 2 PM local time (10:30 AM in India). However, at designated stands outside, members of the public were invited to leave floral arrangements and other condolences from 6:30 AM (India time). Up to 1,000 soldiers will take part in ceremonial responsibilities. To honour Abe, a military honour guard will salute him with 19 empty cannon shots.

The majority of people in Japan - about 60% - say they oppose the state funeral. Many people are upset that the government is funding the event with $11 million in taxpayer money without even getting parliamentary approval.

More than 18,000 police officers will be on duty, and high-level security procedures similar to those employed for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympic Games will be in place.

To honour Shinzo Abe's life, world leaders are set to gather in Tokyo. US Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to join the list of world leaders attending the event.

Huge flower-carrying crowds, many of them dressed in black suits, were encircling the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, where the funeral is taking place. It is the Japanese version of The Queue, which took place last week in the UK in memory of Queen Elizabeth II.

Around 700 guests will attend Shinzo Abe’s state funeral, including US Vice-President Kamala Harris, Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly are attending the funeral.

“Today we are meeting in this hour of sorrow. The last time I came I had a long conversation with former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. India is missing Shinzo Abe and remembering him and Japan,” said PM Narendra Modi while meeting Japanese PM Fumio Kishida.