A man in his seventies set himself ablaze near the Prime Minister’s official residence in Japan, a protest directed at the planned state funeral for former prime minister Shinzo Abe. The incident occurred on a Wednesday close to the Kantei, as the nation prepared for the ceremonial events tied to Abe’s farewell, scheduled for the 27th.
Responders arrived at roughly 07:00 local time and quickly extinguished the flames before transporting the unconscious individual to a hospital. At a press briefing, government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno confirmed the events. Local reporting indicated that the man carried a note stating his strong opposition to the state funeral and admitted to pouring gasoline on himself and igniting the fire. Photos circulating in the media showed scorched grass where the fire began and burns on the arm of a firefighter. Authorities noted there was no damage to nearby buildings. Security teams are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses as part of the ongoing investigation.
Opposition and ordinary citizens have shown rising frictions with the plan to honor Abe with a state funeral. Demonstrations intensified as the date neared, with thousands taking to public streets. Protesters in Tokyo cited the weather disruptions caused by Typhoon Nanmadol and still gathered despite heavy rains in Yoyogi Park. Members of Japan’s political spectrum participated in the protests, reflecting a division within the population over the decision to proceed with the ceremony. Recent polling conducted by multiple media outlets suggested that about half of the population opposes the state funeral.
Abe’s state funeral is slated for September 27 at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo. Government figures place the cost at roughly 1.649 million yen, with estimates translated to about 11.8 million euros. This ceremony would mark only the second postwar state funeral in Japan, the previous one being for Shigeru Yoshida in 1967. Earlier in July, Abe’s family hosted a private funeral at the Zojoji temple in Tokyo, an event attended by party members, opposition figures, diplomats, and thousands of regional residents, illustrating the broad spectrum of reactions to the funeral plans.
Abe, age 67, died after being shot while addressing supporters near a train station in the western city of Nara during a campaign event on July 8. The attack sent shockwaves through Japan and sparked a heated public debate over how the nation should honor a former leader and how such actions should be safeguarded during major political moments. The evolving story continues to unfold as officials and communities reassess security, ceremonial practices, and the emotional weight carried by the Statue of the deceased leader and his supporters.