[앵커]
The director-general of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot and killed in July, will be held this afternoon.
At the same time, a large-scale opposition rally is scheduled in front of the Japanese National Assembly, demonstrating the divided public sentiment over the director.
Find out about the situation in Japan. Correspondent Lee Kyung-ah!
What is the current mood in Japan, which is about to take over the coat of arms amidst controversy?
[기자]
Abe’s funeral will be held at the Japanese Budokan starting at 2pm today.
The place where I am now is the flower stand installed outside the entrance to the Budokan.
Today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., ordinary citizens will hold a wreath.
Let’s hear what the citizens who have visited here have to say.
[조문객 / 도쿄 시민 : 일본인으로서 여기에서 감사하다는 말을 전하고 싶어 왔습니다.]
[조문객 / 나라시 시민 : 저는 (아베 전 총리가 숨진) 나라시에 살고 있어요. 면목 없다고 말하고 싶어 왔습니다.]
About 4,300 people from Japan and abroad will attend this time.
On behalf of the Korean government, a condolence group including Prime Minister Han Deok-soo will also visit.
The director-general will be held more than two months after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was shot and killed during a campaign for the House of Representatives election in Nara City on July 8.
In preparation for this director, the Japanese police have entered the highest level of security posture, such as deploying about 20,000 people at key facilities.
At the same time, the roads going to and from the event site have been controlled all at once, and strict vigilance is in place, such as prohibiting flying in the sky.
It is the second time in Japan that a director general has been awarded to a former prime minister after former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, who died in 1967.
[앵커]
In Japan, public opinion is not good enough to hold protests even on the day of the director general. For what reason?
[기자]
That’s right.
Immediately after the death of former Prime Minister Abe, there was not much opposition in the atmosphere of mourning.
However, as time passed, public opinion changed rapidly, and rallies were held across the country to stop the director.
Listen to the participants.
[국장 반대 시민 : 아베의 정치를 계속 이어가겠다는 것을 기시다 정권이 전력으로 표명하고 그것을 모든 국민에게 강제하는 것은 절대 용납할 수 없습니다.]
[국장 반대 시민 : 옛 통일교와의 부패한 관계가 아베 이후 자민당의 본성을 보여준다고 생각합니다.]
In the midst of a serious economic crisis, the cost of the national coat of arms, which reached 16.5 billion won in Korean money, also aroused public antagonism.
That’s almost 7 times more than the original cost.
Prime Minister Kishida emphasized diplomatic activities through the director several times as the reason for opening the director-general amid public opposition.
However, as most of the leaders of major countries, including the G7, did not attend, it became difficult to expect any remarkable results.
As a symbol of Japan’s conservative right wing, former Prime Minister Abe, who was embroiled in various allegations of corruption during his tenure as prime minister, is still divided in political opinions.
Under such circumstances, Prime Minister Kishida’s decision by the head of the bureau dropped his approval rating to the 20% level.
With the aftermath of the director general expected to continue for the time being, it remains to be seen whether the prime minister can restore public trust.
Until now, this is YTN Lee Kyung-ah in front of the Japanese Budokan.
YTN Kyungah Lee ([email protected])
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