Protests Against Abe's Funeral
Controversial Abe's Funeral Controversy has erupted over former Japanese prime minister's funeral. Thousands of people are expected to gather at Tokyo's famed Budokan arena on Tuesday to pay their respects to slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Japan's government says 3,600 people from Japan and about 700 from overseas will come to the state funeral, including U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. But the mood is distinctly dour in the capital, as the citizens of Japan wrestle with the unsettled legacy of the murdered leader and his controversial send-off using taxpayer funds. The plan has set off a firestorm of debate and protests. The government says the event will cost $12 million, but many suspect the final tab will be much higher. In the country's post-World War II history, only one other prime minister was granted the honor of a funeral financed with state coffers. Police from outside prefectures have also been brought to Tokyo to bolster security.