With flowers, prayers, and a 19-gun salute, Japan honored slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday at the first state funeral for a former premier in 55 years.
Thousands of mourners flooded to designated spots near the venue from early morning to pay their last respects.
Within hours, about 10,000 people had laid flowers, television showed, with more waiting in three-hour long queues.
About 4,300 people attended the funeral ceremony itself, including Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and at least 48 current or former government figures, such as U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russia’s ambassador to Japan, Mikhail Galuzin, also attended….