Japan plans to allocate 1.7 billion yen ($ 12 million) for the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July, but the initiative has sparked resistance in an important part of society, which opposes the ceremony which takes place with public funding.

“Until now it was difficult to calculate the cost of safety and treatment, but now we know representatives of around 190 delegations will participate, including 50 heads of state, so we were able to make an estimate of the security deployment, “Japanese government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference.

Of the 1,400 million yen, 800 (€ 5.7 million) will be allocated to cover the moving costs police in Tokyo from other prefectures, overtime and tuning of vehicles and other devices, explained Matsuno.

The other 600 million yen (4.3 million euros) will be needed cover logistics distribution necessary to receive and serve foreign dignitaries, and in both cases would include coverage of the relevant steps to organize bilateral meetings on the occasion of their visit to the country for the funeral.

Funds

These additional funds for Abe’s state funeral will come entirely from corresponding items in Japan’s general budget for fiscal year 2022, the Japanese spokesman said, and will add to the 249 million yen (1.8 million euros). that the government has already assigned to the organization of the ceremony itself.

This initial budget, revealed on August 25, covered the costs of renting the place where the deed will take placeTokyo’s emblematic Nippon Budokan stadium, as well as the anticovid measures to be implemented and other points of the ceremony.