Protesters Gather in Tokyo , as Japan Holds State Funeral , for Slain Leader, Shinzo Abe.<br />On September 27, thousands of protesters opposed to<br />the state-funded funeral of former Japanese Prime <br />Minister Shinzo Abe flooded the streets near parliament. .<br />On September 27, thousands of protesters opposed to<br />the state-funded funeral of former Japanese Prime <br />Minister Shinzo Abe flooded the streets near parliament. .<br />ABC reports that the protests came as dignitaries <br />from around the world gathered in Tokyo <br />to pay their respects to the slain leader.<br />ABC reports that the protests came as dignitaries <br />from around the world gathered in Tokyo <br />to pay their respects to the slain leader.<br />According to Japan's government, about 3,600 people <br />from Japan and 700 from overseas attended the <br />state funeral which would cost about $12 million.<br />According to Japan's government, about 3,600 people <br />from Japan and 700 from overseas attended the <br />state funeral which would cost about $12 million.<br />ABC reports that opponents of Abe say <br />he was a divisive leader who repeatedly <br />trampled on the democratic principles of Japan.<br />According to local polls, <br />opposition to the state-funded funeral <br />was far greater than support for it. .<br />Approximately 6 in 10 Japanese people <br />opposed the funeral in polls and hundreds of <br />thousands signed petitions to cancel the event.<br />No one thinks that deciding <br />on doing a state funeral in an <br />undemocratic way will help <br />Kishida defend democracy, Koichi Nakano, Political science professor <br />at Sophia University in Tokyo, via ABC.<br />If you really follow the logic, <br />it's democracy that should <br />not be suspended in spite <br />of the brutal murder, Koichi Nakano, Political science professor <br />at Sophia University in Tokyo, via ABC.<br />Koichi Nakano, a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo, argues that the funeral will overshadow Abe's undemocratic record in office.<br />Koichi Nakano, a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo, argues that the funeral will overshadow Abe's undemocratic record in office.<br />ABC reports that Abe's time <br />in office was plagued by scandals <br />and unfulfilled political goals.<br />Only one other prime minister in Japan's <br />post-World War II history has been <br />honored with a state-funded funeral
