Tokyo

Hundreds of Japanese turned out on Tuesday to bid farewell to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who died after being shot at a campaign rally last week, days ahead of the Upper House elections.

A number of people gathered at the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo to pay their respects ahead of a private funeral for Abe.

On Monday, a farewell ceremony, involving relatives, friends and colleagues of Abe, was held at the same temple.

67-year-old Abe was attacked on Friday morning in the Japanese city of Nara.

His killing sparked shock and outrage in Japan and worldwide. The Japanese government said it has received 1700 condolence messages from across the world.

Abe became the youngest Prime Minister of Japan in 2006 at the age of 52 years. He resigned in 2020 at the end of his second term due to health issues.

Abe’s assassin 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami is in custody. He claimed to have killed Abe because he thought the former PM was linked to an organization he resented.

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The Japanese government has decided to award the former Prime Minister with the country's highest order-Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum posthumously.