Obama among international dignitaries expected at Abe state funeral

The government has decided to conduct the funeral despite divided public opinion over whether it is appropriate to hold the state-funded event, with 53.3 percent of respondents to a recent Kyodo News poll opposing it.

…….

A scandal ridden deceased PM still not in step with the public consensus and wasting public money…

I'm kind of disappointed that Obama is going to attend the funeral. With all of the negative backlash regarding Abe and his scandals and the people's will not to have a state funeral, having someone of Obama's stature makes this a real event. If he declined and someone of a lesser rank was tapped to attend it would send a message. Or has Japan pressured the US to send as high a ranking person as possible?

What about Trump?

They were best buddies with Abe after all.

Birds of a feather flock together.

The Japanese government is arranging for former U.S. President Barack Obama to attend a state funeral for slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next month, a government source said Tuesday.

The ties of neo-liberal oligarchy go deeper than race, religion and nationality.

Such a left/right issue. All the people who disliked Abe do like Obama. So they are cringing over this in dismay. Of course if Trump came here, they would say, “See, I told you so”. But it didn’t work that way. It’s kind of like a joke.

Such a left/right issue.

No, it's an oligarchs/imperialists vs the people issue.

All the people who disliked Abe do like Obama.

No, both were abysmal. Forcing the people to pay for something they neither want nor support is appalling, yet it happens every day in Japan.

This is cringe for the Abe people.

Oh cool. so I guess me as an individual tourist will be allowed in the September 27?

Every other G7 nation is open to tourists so why not Japan?

It’s Japanese style nobody wants it (but old men do) so it’s obligatory, socially an obligation to obey and look suitably in the moment while inside Seething with anger. Then get on with life carrying another debt burden to satisfy those families in power.

@Cricky spot on !!!

Just goes to show, once again, that the public's opinion on matter's like this, mean nothing to the government, and in particular the PM.

Welcome Obama !!..

Guess who is the former president can't go because his house is being raided by FBI because stealing classified government documents and he's too busy trying to cover his cheecky move..

LOL !!..

If you don't like it, don't comment. Show some respect. he was PM of the worlds third largest economy for a long time and the last time I checked did no (meaningful) damage to foreign relations during that time. If you don't like it, don't pay your tax or just leave.

Trump is irrelevant. The period from Jan 2017 to Jan 2021 will be a blank in the history books of the USA when it was led by a reality show 'star'. He won't be missed - especially as those who attend never took him seriously.

Every other G7 nation is open to tourists so why not Japan?

Because the Japanese people want it that way.

It’s Japanese style nobody wants it (but old men do) so it’s obligatory, socially an obligation to obey and look suitably in the moment while inside Seething with anger. Then get on with life carrying another debt burden to satisfy those families in power.

I guess you can say the same thing about the JFK and other Americans.

A fallen hero. It is good that the world's leaders come and says farewell to a great man.

The govt, is arranging for..........

Just exactly what does that mean? An all expenses paid junket for Obama?

Seems to be an article to solidify the state funeral.

Kyodo news doing LDP work.

Obama hasn't said yes as far as I can tell nor have any of the rest mentioned in the article.

The Japanese government is arranging for former U.S. President Barack Obama to attend a state funeral.

They can "arrange" all they want but it doesn't say he has accepted.

Now remember, he is no longer president so unless for some strange reason the Biden administration decides to make him a special envoy, he would have to pay his own way and that goes for all the other former leaders.

I am going to that a educated guess that "arranging" is a euphemism for negotiating payment and travel expenses.

This is not unusual this is how many former presidents and Prime Ministers make money.

"Appearance fees"

Strange they would ask Obama when I am pretty sure his administration was always having issues with Abe government. Meanwhile the guy Abe boot licked all the time they aren't asking?

Surprise, surprise. Despite the majority of the public being against a state funeral, and Abe not at all deserving one, they're doing it anyway. When it's proven a bad idea, they'll say they couldn't have known, and then that it's no one else's business anyway (including us who pay for it).

I thought the boarders were closed.

I guess that’s just for the “Little People”

@WA4TKG: Borders are only closed to tourists. Family members/Those on business may all enter now - from all accounts the visa process is fairly simple. But you know this already and just choose to post petty comments.

In other ACTUAL News, I just watched SpaceX launch down at the beach

I'm good with the funeral for Abe. There were aspects of his leadership that I didn't agree with, but he stuck to his beliefs and worked hard to see them realized. He represented a stable and confident Japan and rarely put a foot wrong (no one's perfect). He almost worked himself to death following the outbreak of Corona. His respect on the world stage is impressive for a Japanese prime minister. And finally gave his life for his country because of some deranged idiot whose beef was actually with the Unification church. Rest in peace I say. Obama's presence is a reflection of the importance of his leadership.

Well said Dochira. Much like Margaret Thatcher - plenty of people disagreed with her but like Abe she stuck to her beliefs and left the UK in a much better position than she found it in.

What about Trump?

Exactly! Why not Trump. He's not under arrest (yet). He still has his passport and private jet.

And security? Abe's dead because of the amateur security. Think you can handle all these dignitaries?

What about Trump?

They were best buddies with Abe after all.

I know, that would make kind of sense when you think about it.

I know, that would make kind of sense when you think about it.

Was Trump even invited? He probably wasn't even invited. Maybe it was his conduct unbecoming a president like making fun of handicapped people like when he said "WOMP WOMP". Yes, President Hillary had her email server, PizzaGate, and Vincent Foster, as well as Benghazi but she was never rude to anyone. That is why Obama was invited and Trump not

Was Trump even invited? He probably wasn't even invited. 

Short answer, no. Even the dead don't want his stench at their funerals.

The list of people who have specifically said "Don't invite him." is long and distinguished.

Mr. Trump's passport may have been seized in a raid at his residence this week.

Obama among international dignitaries expected at Abe state funeral

Why?

Donald was his real buddy, golfing and such. Not the fake, insincere, warmongering globalist Obama.

@FizzBit--If they were real golfing buddies, Trump would have noticed the time Abe fell near him on the course and offered a hand.

Obama as the only US president to attend Hiroshima memorial day is the logical choice. Trump is an ever more scandal plagued pariah.

The comments written here are very interesting.

Most of the surveys conducted in Japan are controlled results.

It is not true that the Japanese people are against state funerals.

Antique, Obama trip is paid by the Government,since it considered official business,he will probably get a private jet too

There's a separate private funeral the family is holding. If he isn't invited to that one then we'll know if Abe actually liked him or was putting on an act.

The politics of the former prime minister are irrelvant; of course there must be state funeral. An assassination is in any nation, an offense against society. A state funeral is a morally offended civilization's stand against savagery.