Former Prime Minister Abe's State Funeral
The state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who died at the age of 67 after being shot on July 8, was held on September 27. The state funeral was attended by 4,183 people from Japan and abroad. About 23,000 people lined up in long lines from morning to night at the flower offering stand set up near the state funeral site. The laying of flowers by the general public was scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. about 30 minutes earlier. The line continued for more than 6 kilometers, turning around near JR Yotsuya Station, about 2 kilometers away from the flower offering site.
Yoshihide Suga read a condolence address at the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a "representative of friends."
Here is what he said:
It was the 8th of July.
I want you to hear the unbelievable news and save your life anyway.
I want to see you, I want to share the same air with you in the same space.
With that in mind, I headed to the site, and was able to touch your warm smile for the last moment.
Eighty days have passed since that fateful day.
From then on, the morning will come and the sun will go down.
The cicadas, which had been so loud, quieted down, and the autumn clouds began to drift in the high sky.
The seasons move forward.
Time passes without you.
I still remember something I cannot forgive about the merciless passing.
Why, of all things, did Heaven make such a tragedy a reality and take away the life of a person who should not lose it?
I'm sorry.
While feeling sorrow and anger alternately, I welcomed this day.
But Prime Minister Abe... I'm calling you, can you take a look?
Here, around the Budokan, many people have gathered to offer flowers or attend the national funeral.
It seems that there are not a few people in their 20s and 30s.
A large number of young people, who will be responsible for tomorrow, admire you and come to see you off.
Prime Minister, you want to create a Japan that will be better tomorrow than it is today.
He had a strong conviction that he wanted to give hope to young people, and he spoke to the people every day.
And Japan, Japanese people, bloom in the center of the world.
―That was your catchphrase.
The economy will grow only when the people who will lead the next generation envision a bright future.
There are so many young people who feel sorry for you.
I feel that I have been rewarded.
In 2000, the Japanese government was trying to send rice to North Korea.
I had only been elected twice as a member of the Diet. After voicing my strong opposition, this was published in the newspaper.
Then, you saw the article and called me saying "I want to meet you".
He said, "What Mr. Suga said is correct. I would be happy if you would work with us to bring back the Japanese abducted by North Korea."
Your words at that time, full of conviction and power, became the sustenance of my own political activities after that.
I was struck by his straight eyes and his determination to stick to his beliefs.
I was convinced that this man was the one who would one day become Prime Minister, and that he was the one who had to become Prime Minister.
What I am proud of throughout my life is that I have never wavered from this conviction.
Prime Minister, once your chronic illness worsened and you withdrew from the post of Prime Minister.
Feeling this as a debt, he hesitated for a long time about running for the LDP president for the second time.
In the end, the two of us went to a yakitori restaurant in Ginza, and I tried my best to persuade you.
Because I thought that was my mission.
Three hours later, he finally shook his head.
I will always be proud of this achievement as the greatest achievement of Yoshihide Suga's life.
When the Prime Minister was at the Prime Minister's official residence, I never failed to talk to him without hesitation once a day.
Even now, when I am alone, I am vividly reminded of those days.
My position was that if possible, it would be better to take time to enter the TPP negotiations.
The Prime Minister said, ``We must not lose the timing.
If you take a step back, you lose momentum.
He must have thought that only by moving forward would a way forward open up.
Prime Minister, your judgment was always correct.
Prime Minister Abe.
Thanks to you, the irreplaceable leader in history, Japan was able to enact all of the difficult bills, including the Act on the Protection of Specially Designated Secrets, a series of legislation for peace and security, and the Revised Act on Punishment of Organized Crime.
Without any one of them, our country's security cannot be ensured.
We are eternally grateful for your faith and determination.
Break through the national crisis and create a strong Japan.
We also aspire to become a truly peaceful nation, and make Japan a country that can contribute to the world in every field.
Prime Minister, you never stopped smiling, even in the midst of these days of determination and determination.
He always cared about those around him and showered them with kindness.
Seven years and eight months spent together at the prime minister's official residence, sharing all kinds of joys and sorrows.
I was really happy
I remember not only myself, but all the staff working brightly and lively during those tough days.
Thank you again and again.
Prime Minister Abe, you were a true leader for our country.
In the House of Representatives First Members' Office Building, Room 1212, there was a book half-read on your desk.
"Aritomo Yamagata" written by Yoshitake Oka.
The last page, which I read so far, was folded.
And there was a line on that page with a marker pen.
Appropriately, the marked part was a poem written by Aritomo Yamagata in memory of his long-time ally, Hirobumi Ito, before his death.
Prime Minister, there is no other poem that expresses my thoughts as well as this one.
How do people who are exhausted to fight with each other care for the future beyond the present?
How do people who are exhausted to fight with each other care for the future beyond the present?
I feel deep sadness and loneliness.
Prime Minister, thank you very much.
Please rest in peace.
September 27, 2020 Former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
Translated by google translation
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