In a ritual that has become as contentious as the late former prime minister was in life, Japan paid tribute to the assassinated Shinzo Abe on Tuesday with flowers, prayers, and a 19-gun salute at the first official funeral for a former premier in 55 years.
Abe’s widow, Akie, brought his ashes into the Nippon Budokan Hall in the heart of Tokyo at 2:00 p.m. (0500 GMT) amid music from a military band and the resounding booms of the honor-guard salute.
