Shinzo Abe’s relatives and friends respectfully greeted the former Japanese prime minister, who was assassinated in Tokyo on Monday, shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Abe a “man of vision.”

The tribute came the day after the governing coalition’s victory in the Senate elections, cementing its majority in the Upper House. The vote comes two days after Abe was killed, who was shot twice during a rally.

The hearse, along with Abe’s body, arrived at Zojoji shrine Monday afternoon Japanese time for the funeral, which was attended by business officials.

A few hours ago, Blinken, who was already in Asia, made an unscheduled visit to Japan to express his condolences from the United States.

Blinken handed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida a letter from US President Joe Biden addressed to Abe’s family.

“When one friend suffers, the other friend comes out,” said the Foreign Minister.

Abe “did more than anyone else to elevate the relationship between the United States and Japan.”

“We will do everything we can to help our friends bear the brunt of this loss,” he said, before praising Abe as “a man of vision with the ability to realize this vision.”

“Moon Sect”

Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, accused of murder is in custody and told investigators that the politician attacked Abe because he believed he was affiliated with a religious organization.

Yamagami’s mother was confirmed on Monday as a member of the Unification Church, also known as the Lunar Sect.

Japanese media claimed that Yamagami’s family had financial problems after his mother’s donations to the religious group.

According to information released on Friday, Yamagami sought revenge against an “organization”, but the entity’s name was not disclosed until Monday.

The shooter believed Abe had ties to this group.

“The mother of the suspect Tetsuya Yamagami is a member of our organization and attends our events once a month,” Tomihiro Tanaka, head of the Unification Church in Japan, told a brief press conference in Tokyo. Said.

Tanaka did not disclose details of donations from the suspect’s mother, claiming that the police investigation is ongoing and that the organization wants to “cooperate”.

He stated that the church was horrified by the “brutal” murder and that Abe was “never” a member or advisor.

Information about Yamagami includes various speculations, including that he spent three years in the Japanese Navy. Another claims to have watched YouTube videos to learn how to make homemade weapons similar to those used in the attack.

Abe died after being shot while speaking at a rally in Nara (western Japan) on Friday.

electoral victory

Despite widespread national turmoil over the assassination, during Sunday’s Senate elections, Prime Minister Kishida stressed the importance of showing that violence cannot defeat democracy.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (PLD) and Komeito party allies, to which Abe belongs, have increased their strength and now hold a comfortable majority of 76 of the 125 seats in the upper house, 10 more senators than the previous legislature. to projections..

Before the crime, a government victory was already expected. The poll results pave the way for major reforms that Abe sought to implement as head of government, such as changing the pacifist character that defined Japan and the Constitutional amendment recognizing the Armed Forces.

Prime Minister Kishida said the majority represented an opportunity to “protect Japan” and consolidate the achievements of the Abe era.

Kishida, who took office in September last year, promised to combat the epidemic, inflation and difficulties caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.