Cost of Abe's state funeral rises to ¥1.6 billion

Make the Unification Church pay for it.

Domestic accomplishment: stoking fascist fervor?

International accomplishment: dressing up like Mario?

The quote of 1.6 Billion yen is just the tip of the iceberg.

With foreign dignitaries flying in, they now need to close the road between Haneda and the city for security purposes. This is similar to Japan's hosting international conferences like G8 in Toyoko and APEC in Yokohama. The roads around the dignitaries' hotels and the procession itself will be closed. The inefficiencies of being unable to move around in a city like Tokyo are incalculable.

On another note, business colleagues from overseas that have been trying to get into Japan that week have been rejected for visas even though they run semi-major companies in Japan. Some of these same people were able to enter earlier this summer. Japanese Embassies and consulates worldwide seem to have stopped answering their phones! It's probably just a coincidence, but I definitely wouldn't be surprised if this recent policy change had some connection with a state funeral.

Why can’t the Unification Church pay for it?

Even with all the protesters and openly against this citizens Japan LDP will always just do what it wants and definite protesters as chaotic elements who want to do harm to the average person.

pathetic.

More brown envelopes because every politician, business owner, and yakuza member want a taste of the gravy train.

The LD's 1.6 billion yen spit in the ocean will buy neither love nor respect for the late Abe-san and Kishida. It will do the opposite.

No word to quality such insanity! My taxes used to pay for the worst ever PM make me vomit!

The arrogance! When the people don't want it but they still continue...... Just wow!

Cheap really, if it were paid for by Abe's corrupt cronies.

RealisticSep. 6  11:02 pm JST

If Abe-san is watching from heaven ...

You really think that's where he is?

he must be surprised and will not like spending such huge amount by government in such a way.

If he were wasting that much cash he would say his staff arranged it all and he knew nothing about it.

12 million dollar please

I meant 'return' to Japan. Sorry. Got way ahead of myself with disgust of waste.

Makes me not want to Japan. Seriously.

Japan sent out invitations to the world with an RSVP by August. Over half apparently haven’t responded.

Likely because they don't want to be chaperoned in a group tour ;)

¥1.6 billion is no persimmon seeds and peanuts, but we have more urgent problems to solve. Save your breath and leave these petty topics for the minor parties.

We’re stuck and can’t raise interest rates because the book value of existing bonds would drop. Leaders don’t tighten the belts and take the hit like Xi can.

You see though, this sort of unwanted and unwarranted use of public funds is EXACTLY what got Japan in debt to begin with. No one including the media is holding the LDP to account for all their spending and it is going to cripple the country.

This could pay for post-secondary education for HUNDREDS of people, and then still be enough left to actually give out assistance for Covid-related losses. But nope, Kishida wants a big show so he can wine and dine foreign politicians, whom I have no doubt he'll force to go lay a wreath at the Hiroshima bomb memorial.

I think the LDP wants the Abe funeral to exceed the level of sobering of North Korean Kim il Sun and Kim JoniL combined

Leeches that just keep on sucking are killing the Japanese people!

If Abe-san is watching from heaven he must be surprised and will not like spending such huge amount by government in such a way.

Remember September 27, 2022, a day of LDP excess and waste that will live in infamy! Make Kishida et al. pay at the polls for their arrogance by ignoring the wishes of the Japanese people to see their tax money put to better use.

NOMINATION

When is the next election? I am sure many are anxious to vote.

Last election barely happened last month the weekend after Abe's assassination and LDP dominated as people voted out of pity. It doesn't matter what their approval rating is because people who disapprove don't vote

That was a Upper House election, not a General Election.

The next Japanese general elections are scheduled on or before 31 October 2025, as required by the constitution.

MartimuranoToday  10:20 pm JST

... those Japanese who I know and speak to on a regular basis...

Personal anecdotes don't mean a whole lot.

When is the next election? I am sure many are anxious to vote.

Last election barely happened last month the weekend after Abe's assassination and LDP dominated as people voted out of pity. It doesn't matter what their approval rating is because people who disapprove don't vote.

Further to my earlier post in which I put forward the views of Japanese People..... not us foreigners - those Japanese who I know and speak to on a regular basis, they actually feel very sorry that such a terrible and public execution of a man who was universally liked could have taken place in Japan..... so on behalf of these people and their views, we should be more respectful, and not criticise the send-off which they're planning on giving him.

Sometimes we must set aside the me - me - me, and start thinking about how the Japanese people like to do things.

A bargain at even double the price.

Abe, what a great guy RIP

The money should be used to pay back families that were extorted by the Moonies while getting political cover from Abe and 100 plus other members of the LDP. Once again it is clear for all to see how deeply corrupt the LDP is and will always be. And yet they win election after election in this country making Japan a one party state, no different from China.

(edited)

*But**, nine years (!), and he didn’t do enough to push this country forward.*

Have the Moonies pay for it.

Interesting, I read that more heads of states will be in Japan to pay their respects so the tax payers will be paying more money for security for a Abe 's visitors than for Abe when he was alive.

Security is expected to cost around 800 million yen.

Just to give perspective, one could build ten kindergartens out of this money..

Say Whaaaaaaaaaa????

A big billion now

Make the Unification Church pay for it. And if they won't, take away their tax exempt status.

Actually....take it away anyway. They are a cancer in every country they infiltrate.

You're forgetting who actually made BOTH the UC AND the LDP- the CIA.

THEY should pay for it.

[ In 1977, Congressman Donald Fraser launched an investigation into Moon's cult. The 444-page Congressional report alleged Moonie involvement with bribery, bank fraud, illegal kickbacks, and arms sales. The report revealed that Moon's 20,000-member Unification Church was a creation of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA). The Moonies were working with KCIA Director Kim Chong Phil as a political instrument to influence U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. CIA was the agency primarily responsible for founding the KCIA after WW II. ]

Surely all of these sevices should be offered free of charge. He was such a great man. Its terrible anyone is profiting.

I hope the police do a better job of security at his funeral than they did on the day he was killed.

It's all about saving face. They don't want to be seen as a failure again so they probably hired about a million security guards.

Quite ironic to spend that much on security considering the event that caused this funeral.

Pretty sure all those foreign "dignitaries" will bring their own security detail, LDP should just leave security to the pros. Kishida can hide behind Obama.

When is the next election? I am sure many are anxious to vote.

1.6 bill. is no problem. just print that much more and case is closed.

A complete waste of money. I keep trying to think of a single thing he did that was good. Maybe he was PM longer than anyone. Was that because he changed the rules? Was it because he was a good PM? That seems unlikely as when I try to think of something good he did, I can't think of a single thing.

His arrows all missed the target, Japan, the Japanese economy, nothing in Japan improved while he was Prime Minister.

Why did he eventually stop being Prime Minister by resigning? Was it because he was sick? Or was it because something, one of many scandals, was about to hit the fan?

Martimurano, I believe very few Japanese see him as a thoroughly decent man. They assume politicians are corrupt, they assume corruption is "shoga nai". I don't think they consider him successful either.

Whatever ones political leanings, or opinions, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe didn't on that fateful day, in the last throws of life, at that hands of a assassin, whisper make sure its a state funeral, the people will pay, quickly book the Nippon Budokan.

That responsibility lies with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his cabinet.

All that was needed was a simple request for public donations, tap the business community, a number if Abe's san arrows gave unprecedented stimulus to bloat there bottom lines.

And allow history to take it course.

I don't think this could have been more mis-managed outside of the Tokyo Olympics

Just the other day an article on here said it would cost 250 million Yen and I thought that was too high, now the cost is more than six times higher??

About what you would expect as a send off for the guy who brought us Abenomasks and the most expensive summer Olympics ever.

The high cost of security is to protect the international visitors.

the government expects dozens of current and former heads of state to pay condolences at the September 27 service in Tokyo.

I hope the police do a better job of security at his funeral than they did on the day he was killed.

the Japanese want it to be officially recognised in his passing in such horrendous manner (a public assassination), by holding a state funeral for their most successful Prime Minister (again in the eyes of the Japanese) 

More than half of the Japanese are opposed to having a state funeral for Abe.

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20220905-56300/

If the LDP feels so strongly about it, let them and their partners the Moonies pay for the funeral.

its insane in situation like this...

Oh the Irony. Security for what? He is dead, because of hardly any security. Now a few thousand cops have to pretend they are looking out for homemade guns for a couple hours. What a joke. Oh well, maybe all the extra pay to security will increase alcohol sales.

I think we have to respect firstly, the deceased, a thoroughly decent man in the eyes of the Japanese, secondly the Japanese want it to be officially recognised in his passing in such horrendous manner (a public assassination), by holding a state funeral for their most successful Prime Minister (again in the eyes of the Japanese) of recent times.

If it costs around $11million, so be it, Japan's a very wealthy country.

I thought they arrested the people involved in the Olympics payoffs?

Looks like some are still out there.

Expect at least a 3 fold increase.

debt for dead.........

“ But recent polls show about half of Japanese voters oppose the publicly funded event. “

;hard working people, the same people the J-Gov loves to play with. And it’s not “half”; the real numbers are between seventy and seventy five percent.

..

We’re talking about a man who became the longest serving PM in the history of Japanese politics because he was raised in a family of politicians, born into the world of Japanese politics *(it doesn’t take much to be re-elected in Japan – let’s be honest: a country with one political party), and he had decent leadership skills (that helps). *But he didn’t do enough to push this country forward; Japanese society is still facing the same old problems and Japan’s presence on the global stage is weak.

Did this man earn the respect of the Japanese nation? Does he deserve a state funeral? imho no.

Xi has the courage to pop the bubble and reform real estate. He’s not afraid of slower economic growth, and he’s doing this before election in November.

Very off topic but that is not because of courage, it's because he has complete control of himself wanting to be in power or not You don't really need to worry about big decisions if you can't be voted out, or even be talked about in a negative way.

Why is Unification Church being brought up? How about we make the murderer and his family pay for the funereal cost?

The good in the real world - Japan has the decency and respect to honor their Prime Minister and their legacy of service to their nation.

Make the Unification Church pay for it. And if they won't, take away their tax exempt status.

Actually....take it away anyway. They are a cancer in every country they infiltrate.

Let the LDP pay for it.

@Nemo

You can, Blow me (a kiss as you're leaving.)

If you think it's a reasonable thing to charge the taxpayers 1.6 billion in "oops we forgot to tell you about that fee" charges, then by all means feel free to pony up

It is not Abe's fault that the present government did it.

Geez, I forgot from whom I ask for some decency.

You can blow me (a kiss as you're leaving).

Japan sent out invitations to the world with an RSVP by August. Over half apparently haven’t responded.

¥1.6 billion is no persimmon seeds and peanuts, but we have more urgent problems to solve. Save your breath and leave these petty topics for the minor parties.

We’re stuck and can’t raise interest rates because the book value of existing bonds would drop. Leaders don’t tighten the belts and take the hit like Xi can.

Xi has the courage to pop the bubble and reform real estate. He’s not afraid of slower economic growth, and he’s doing this before election in November.

Kishida is another yes man.

If you add the amount for this funeral, with the Abenomasks, add the Olympics bribes, add the moonies money, and add that to all the tax money and bribes he embezzled while he was in office, PLUS his actual Prime Minister salary and per diems, how much money did Abe actually pocket from the Japanese public funds in his lifetime?

He must be the richest man in Japan that there ever was.

What are we “celebrating” about him again?

Sounds more than reasonable for a well respected and deserving former prime minister….

What utter waffle.

Deserving? Good lord, mate.

Cost of Abe's state funeral rises to ¥1.6 billion

wow, that’s both laughable and disgusting at the same time.

i can’t believe the Japanese people are going to let this go through.

The government is just blatantly giving the tax payers the F-U right now.

The funeral director to the taxpayers: "This is our most moderately priced receptical."

Us: "Just because we're bereaved doesn't make us saps! You got a Ralph's around here?"

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said the domestic and international accomplishments of Abe, the country's longest-serving prime minister, make a state ceremony appropriate.

Kishida, I sincerely hope someone asks you directly, and you answer with a straight face, the following two questions;

What, in detail, did Abe accomplish domestically?

What in detail, did Abe accomplish internationally?

If you answer, "brought the Olympics to Tokyo" or anything along the lines of "made the average people's lives better" or anything close to either of those, I sincerely hope your "approval" rating drops to single digits!

Abe was killed because a young guy was robed from his future as his mother spent a hundred milion yen for a cult instead of education.

And now LDP (because this is a party thing not state honor) are spending that much instead of trying to fix the future for at least some young people.

Beyond ridiculous :(

This comes as a surprise to absolutely nobody. When they said ¥250 million it was too much, but ¥1.6 billion?

If his fans want a big send off they really need to put their hands in their pockets. Especially those who benefitted from his corruption.

A disgrace. Even dead this man is still robbing the public purse.

I don't get why this is costing more than the price of the venue and casket, if any visitors need security etc. than shouldn't they pay for that themselves? usually you go to funerals expecting to be the one giving, not the other way around.

Send the bill to the Unification church

I will approve this if all participants are forced to wear those ridiculously small abemasks.

Will it be Japanese style "security", like they have at my bank? i.e. a guy in his 80s with fancy fake epaulettes and a glo-stick?

I think that many Japanese are opposed to the national funeral because of his association with a cult. If there was no connection, this level of expense might not be a big deal. More importantly, aid to India and Africa is really a waste of money.

Don't forget the hidden mark up fees written in fine print going towards Dentsu!

Is this a funeral or a police bonus?

Costs were reported on August 26 to be 250 million yen (without security). Today, we learn that security alone will be triple that amount (800 million yen).

Please have the Moonies pay for this. They are the reason for his death.

This makes no sense at all.

Are you freaking kidding me? 800 million, $7.15 million USD in security FOR A DEAD GUY?

Talk about beating a dead horse!

The only questions remaining are:

How much did Dentsu get?

How much did Mori get?

When will we discover that the ACTUAL cost was 3.2 billion JPY to have a ceremony for a guy who's already dead and buried (or scattered. You get the idea)?

I didn't like it at 250 million JPY. I am apoplectic at 1.6 billion.

If the LDP had any integrity they would have requested Akie make it a private affair. The people would have really respected them for that and it would have gone someways to repairing the reputation of the PM and his band of cronies.

Sounds more than reasonable for a well respected and deserving former prime minister….

Well gee, ain't that a surprise. You can double that again for the real figure.

ahhh..... the new form of capitalism.... taking from the poor to bolster the elite.... oh, wait!!!

Ridiculous.