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© KYODOObama to skip Abe's state funeral; Hagerty to attend
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© KYODO
32 Comments
englisc aspyrgend
That’s politics and politicians for you, alive they shower you with warm praise, dead you are nothing to them and a serving of cold shoulder it is.
dbsaiya
Considering Abe ran off to visit Trump right after the 2016 election snubbing the sitting president, Obama, it sounds fine to me.
stickman1760
Exactly, what about Trump? He and “Prime minister Abi” were the best of friends less we forget. Hamburgers, golf, sumo trophies. C’mon Orange one. Do your friend a solid.
lincolnman
Agree with others - while I'm sure Obama and Abe were friends, they weren't the golfing selfie buddies Abe and the spray-tanned, orange hair dyed, drama queen from Queens were....
But then, he is under multiple criminal investigations and I'm sure the DOJ doesn't want him jetting off overseas...
As close as Japan is to Russia, I'd say that's a wise decision...
G&T
it is wrong not to invite president trump.
Aly Rustom
Obama to skip Abe's state funeral;
Good. Its beneath him.
EXACTLY!! THIS!!
I heard they actually disliked each other.
Aly Rustom
the nation's respect and condolences as a whole??
Abe was reviled as PM except by the right wing of Japan and the US and those in US intelligence, and that's about it. There was SOME public sympathy for him when he was slain- but that evaporated in light of the ties to the moonies.
Kishida is full of it, and he is just pandering to the right wing.
dagon
My respect for the former President can only grow.
Aly Rustom
Should have just sent Pelosi.
Andy
Obama knew Abe well, probably why he's not attending.
roninroshi
If nothing is to be gained…Obama will disappear.
Alfie Noakes
Obama/Clinton were the instigators of the soft coup that ousted Hatoyama Yukio in 2010 and led to the return of Abe and the LDP. Now that Abe's murder has led to the exposure of his family's multi-generational connections to the fascist cult Unification Church, the US political elite are distancing themselves from the scandal.
shogun36
downgrade. Who else is dropping out?
smart moves
Mr Kipling
There now follows a party political funeral on behalf if the LDP.
Paid for by your tax. Personally I would prefer the money was burnt to keep warm.
Rodney
Best not to be seen close to such a controversial figure as Abe.
TokyoLiving
Who needs that clown at a funeral??..
kyushubill
And this helps us pay our bills how? So why should anyone care?
Aly Rustom
kyushubill
It doesn't. Quite the opposite. It is using our hard earned taxes to fund a pork barrel funeral. Can't believe Abe's dead and yet he's still fleecing the country.
We don't. I've personally said that I'm fed up with hearing about the damn funeral. I'm resigned to the fact that the LDP is governing like a feudal gov and doesn't care about the will of the people, otherwise the funeral wouldn't go on. But it is and fine. so be it.
I just wish we didn't have to hear about it every day
voiceofokinawa
In the UK, it's usually the case that a state funeral is held for a monarch. Winston Churchill's was an exception in that point. But it is said a state funeral for Churchill was decided to be held by the decree of Queen Elizabeth II.
A state funeral for Shinzo Abe, however, decided on by the Kishida cabinet alone, hence causing pros and cons about it.
stormcrow
Why not invite Trump?
That would be so funny. Like watching a Japanese funeral changing into an American carnival.
stormcrow
It should also be added that Trump is such a showboat that he’d be jealous of the corpse if it received more attention than him.
Numan
President Obama knew what a criminal and revisionist Abe was.
Abe did not like that Pres. Obama was too smart for him. Pres. Obama was famous made world leader moves and was praised. This is still happening after his presidency. The average person around the world would not know Abe from Ken Watanabe.
trump's presidency was riddled with scandals and ended in humiliation. Similarly, Abe's role as leader was filled with scandals and embarrassment, and he had to quit because of them.
(trump = Abe) - Bird's of a feather!!!
Aly Rustom
best post I read all day!
Hervé L'Eisa
I'm sure Mr Abe will be disappointed...
voiceofokinawa
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki is reported not to attend Abe’s state funeral, actually a memorial or remembrance service. Condolences have already been sent by Tamaki to the bereaved family, the report says.
Flags will not be hoisted half-mast at the prefectural government building either, it is reported.
Aly Rustom
blue- Fantastic post!
Good on Gov Tamaki! Well done!
mu-da
Abe was only important in Japan or with non-Japanese speaking journalists who only understood to Abe's catch phrases like the most ridiculous "Abenomics".
Dochira
Sorry that Obama coudn't make it - whassup with that Barry!?
But Hagerty an excellent representative for the States. Welcome back Ambassador!
Aly Rustom
Open-minded
Agree mate!