Japan honors Abe with highest decoration; wake held in Tokyo

Out of respect to the former prime minister, the national flag should fly half staff nationally and a moment of silence is in order.

"He came right after the election -- he was the first person I saw" as president-elect, Trump said, according to Breitbart. "But we had a special relationship. We're going to see about that, we're talking about that right now."

You can draw some parallels between Abe and Trump.

Both inheritors of a legacy of influence and wealth who did little to help their constituencies.

Comfortable with corruption with a Teflon sheen that let them evade many of the consequences.

No idea how others feel about this, and I must admit that I don't know anything about this Order of the Chrysanthemum, but I'm asking myself whether it's right to honour Abe-san with this decoration just days after he was gunned down, giving the impression that the only reason he is awarded this honour is that he was assassinated, rather than on the basis of his achievements (which I suppose is how it normally works with these Orders, similar to an OBE or an MBE in Britain).

Clearly Abe-san had been a leading figure in Japanese politics and on the world stage for many years (albeit also a controversial one), and I don't want to take away from that, but wouldn't there usually be a lot more deliberation before deciding to award someone this high honour?

Any chance for publicity on Trump's part

for me, Abe will be remembered for wasting 100’s of millions of $$$ on useless masks, that were purchased from his friends company.

Couldn’t they have used a better picture of Abe?

The question is - Would Japan have honored Abe with the highest decoration if he had died of natural causes? If so, then this is appropriate. If not, then this is a farce.

Mr. Abe is no longer alive and the least any Lady or Gentleman can do is to have some respect for the funeral, his family, and a mourning nation and keep the negativity for another day.

You can draw some parallels between Abe and Trump.

Oh it runs ALOT deeper than that! Check this article out from the daily beast.

Shinzo Abe Was Japan’s ‘Donald Trump Before Trump’—Except He Pulled It Off (thedailybeast.com)

That the assassin of Shinzo Abe was a socially marginalized person does not bode well for Japan. This in itself is a socialized reaction to Japan's economic woes over the years. Such an "assassin" may be an isolated case, but such a "marginalized" person is clearly not.

has additionally been honored with the Junior First Rank of Court,

I'm rather amazed that the court ranks have been preserved and still officially used. The system was first introduced back in 701! Of course the present-day meaning of it must be merely symbolic.

The last shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu and a top Meiji leader Okubo Toshimichi (who also was assassinated) are among the historical recipients of this rank.

List of Japanese court ranks, positions and hereditary titleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_court_ranks,_positions_and_hereditary_titles

Strange that when he was in office he was one of Japan's most hated premiers. Now, because he was assassinated he becomes one of Japan's most highly decorated premiers.

The question is - Would Japan have honored Abe with the highest decoration if he had died of natural causes?

Only about 1 in 20 Medal of Honor recipients are awarded when alive.

We used to joke that the MoH was a consolation prize for your family because it’s extremely rare for a living person to receive one.

Abe is like an Artist. When he is not with us anymore, he is valued.

It's all so surreal. It's still hard to believe that it actually happened.

What, regarding his actions and being killed, earns him this award? He absolutely deserves the moment of silence a poster mentioned above, as well as flags flown at half mast, a State funeral, and more, but why this award for being assassinated? I don't feel it is warranted.

The supreme order of the chrysanthemum is the continued secret reign of the imperial royal family even tho many think the royal family is only a figurehead.

The imperial calendar has never stopped and as all can see on all official government documents and postage.

The supreme superiority and self proclaimed godliness status continues still to this day.

The chrysanthemum seal goes way back in history to the ancient Egyptians and katakana came from ancient hebrew.

The showering of honors on the deceased LDP symbol is of little import compared to the ramifications of his sudden, violent death for others of his kind. The reality that must be honestly faced is that the man who killed Abe is just one of the millions of "forgotten men" in many countries whom powerful political players ignore and slight at their peril. The MAGA millions in America are the most egregious example of the marginalized, disaffected and discontented , a powder-keg of anger and resentment after feeling abandoned by career politicians focused solely on self-interest in their pursuit of power and self-enrichment. It was Abe's arrogance of his class and his reckless sense of entitlement that led in some measure to the lack of security. The shock waves of Abe's assassination have reverberated around the world and will have been felt personally by not a few prominent politicians around the world who now sleep less easily in their beds.

The award is because it symbolizes Abe has achieved the savior and rebirth of Japan as the Phoenix and Japan's rise to greatness by the upcoming changes of the constitution.

Japan suffered a lot under Abe, but he didn't deserve to die in such tragic way, in broad daylight. There are other ways to voice our anger and frustrations in a democratic society. However, I hope that this will also be wake up call to politicians who think that they are untouchables. People snap, y'know!

How about listing his achievements?

actually, that’s not such a good idea.

RodneyToday  09:15 am JST

How about listing his achievements?

Abe-masks

Dressing up as Mario

Others?

How about a massive drop in GDP after 2012?

Amazing!

Strange that when he was in office he was one of Japan's most hated premiers.

Yeah right, that is why he election after election.

How about listing his achievements?

1) The Quad

2) Record low unemployment

3) TPP

4) Record corporate profits

5) The longest economic growth streak on record

Just to name a few of many.

Shinzo Abe Was Japan’s ‘Donald Trump Before Trump’—Except He Pulled It Off (thedailybeast.com)

A FAR LEFT RAG.

THIS WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT ABE:

Shinzo Abe and Japan’s Revival

The former Prime Minister, who was assassinated on Friday, was a friend of the U.S. who tried to revitalize his country at home and abroad.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/shinzo-abe-and-japans-revival-economy-assassination-prime-minister-11657286880?mod=mhp

This is also what others are saying about Abe :

Shinzo Abe Was ‘Trump Before Trump’—Except He Pulled It Off (thedailybeast.com)

A FAR LEFT RAG.

Far more insightful than any of the links you put up

4) Record corporate profits

How is THAT an achievement??

@ reamer

Very well said and most articulate

1) The Quad

2) Record low unemployment

3) TPP

4) Record corporate profits

5) The longest economic growth streak on record

How about:

Social mobility?

Wage growth?

Trickle-down?

Like him or not, Mr. Abe was democratically elected and served 2 terms, for those who disagreed with him should have voted him out, but obviously you failed. Now that he is no longer with us the least we can do is at least acknowledge his success and your failure, and that's how democracy works.

@Mark - How many people would have voted for him if the extent of his corruption, ties to religious cults, his family history and how that might be impacting on his personal political intentions had been reported on properly? This is exactly why the work of journalists is so important. It’s even more disappointing that this information still isn’t being referred to even after his death.

Humanity, never ceases to astound, Humanity always presents awards and recognition, in this case the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the nation's highest decoration, posthumously.

If such an award was warranted why not present it when Abe San was alive to fully appreciate the honour?

The wicked world of political intrigue may shine some light on that.

The Japanese government on Monday honored former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was gunned down Friday in the western city of Nara, with the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum, the nation's highest decoration.

Like it will make *Abe's family happy receiving this highest decoration knowing he would be

alive if he was accorded proper security.

The government, the LDP, his faction and the numerous companies that benefited from Abe's

rein couldn't honor him by flying his remains from Osaka to Tokyo. Instead they allowed the

grieving Mrs Abe to endure 12 hours driving the corpse to Tokyo from Nara without any police

escort. 12 hours sitting there just with the driver, no conversation, nobody to console her, how agonizing.

Abe Sama, thank you for your great work and dedication to Japan..

May your soul rest in peace..

God bless Japan..

Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly said he is considering attending a funeral for his one-time Japanese counterpart.

Please don't..

“Strange that when he was in office he was one of Japan's most hated premiers. Now, because he was assassinated he becomes one of Japan's most highly decorated premiers.”

Disillusioned. Most hated? And he was the longest serving PM in modern time Japan? Don’t speak for everyone, Disillusioned.

ooheysnewToday 07:22 am JST

for me, Abe will be remembered for wasting 100’s of millions of $$ on useless masks, that were purchased from his friends company.

Indeed, I am a bit confused by all of that, his assassination is awful but everyone is acting like he was Gandhi, truth is, he was an (ultra?) nationalist with quite a few dodgy scandals, everyone forgot the land deal already ?

“Abe-masks”

not the best mask but we appreciate it. We appreciate the PM’s effort during the early days of the pandemic and ensuing confusion in the supply chain where many people couldn’t find let along buy any mask at their local supermarkets or drug stores…

MarkToday  07:48 am JST

Mr. Abe is no longer alive and the least any Lady or Gentleman can do is to have some respect for the funeral, his family, and a mourning nation and keep the negativity for another day.

Fools rush in Mark, where angels fear to tread. They just can't help themselves mate.

MarkToday  07:48 am JST

Mr. Abe is no longer alive and the least any Lady or Gentleman can do is to have some respect for the funeral, his family, and a mourning nation and keep the negativity for another day.

Fools rush in Mark, where angels fear to tread. They just can't help themselves mate

Love him or hate him he didn’t deserve to be assassinated by a delusional loon.

Ikeda said at a press conference that he suspects the imperial couple may be feeling extremely sorry and heartbroken about Abe's death, and concerned about the bereaved family.

The fact that the whole nation is mourning the tragic death of the Ex-PM Shinzo is in itself testimony to fact that the imperial couple shares the same emotion of loss and pain. To say you suspect them to be heartbroken sounds a bit disrespectful/ if not wrong/ unfair to them. They are mourning with everyone!

“Speak for yourself, @hattorikun. I for one didn’t appreciate getting two useless masks several months after anyone needed them anymore. And I appreciated even less that these useless masks were made and distributed at a huge expense to the taxpayer, and that the only person to benefit from said masks was Abe’s friend who owned the company that manufactured them. Never forget!”

i do. I didn’t mean to speak for you. We still have those two masks at home. Yes it can be useless but it reminds us of the difficult time. For us, you not included, we appreciate any help when we need it.

This assassination has revealed also deep political and historical relation with Japan's right-wing ruling party LDP and Unification Church.

But Japanese major media or TV politics commentators or pro-government reporters try to divert Japanese general public eyes from other face of Japanese politics history. 

Somehow, Many media are hesitating even to use the name "Unification Church".

The fact that the whole nation is mourning the tragic death of EX-PM Shinzo

That's completely incorrect !

The whole nation is definitely not mourning the death of Shinzo Abe !

Here in Okinawa since Abe's murder absolutely no body ive talked to is mourning his death.

I suggest you realize the truth and not live in la la land !

The question is - Would Japan have honored Abe with the highest decoration if he had died of natural causes? If so, then this is appropriate. If not, then this is a farce.

If he had died of natural causes, maybe not. But he did die as a result of his work which is serving the people of Japan.

"Strange that when he was in office he was one of Japan's most hated premiers. Now, because he was assassinated he becomes one of Japan's most highly decorated premiers."

Hated? lol. Hardly. Why don't you check, to get a grip with actual reality, the approval ratings of the Abe Administration when it was in office? There was not a single person in the Opposition who ever ranked higher than Abe Shinzo. Never. Or how about the 8 elections Abe won in his time in power?

Also, you might take the time to learn that this particular highest decoration is usually bestowed on Japanese in the post-war period only after they have passed away, for whatever reason.

Don't let your own hatred get in the way of facts...the only thing that ever stopped Abe from maintaining his position of popularly-elected power was his own decision to step down...and an assassin's cruel attack. The Opposition to Abe was, is, and will continue to be, a tiny fraction of the populace. Reality!

......the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum!!

I hope that sounds better in Japanese.