Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Students from different campuses in Japan protested in Tokyo against the state funeral for former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo to be held on September 27 in the presence of foreign heads of state.

In their statement, student leaders from Okinawa and other areas denounced the “militaristic legacy” of Shinzo Abe in the current policies of Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio, and denounced the joint military exercises (RInpac) with the United States.

The students also pointed to the Unification Church cult scandal that infiltrated members of the government.

A Kyoto student told Arab News Japan he objected to the state funeral citing the fact that Abe’s economic policies only served the most privileged classes. He said that most students at his university did not support the state funeral.

After several speeches, the students put on helmets and dark glasses while singing slogans against the funeral, the war and the government of Kishida.

During the demonstration a young nationalist tried to disrupt the procession and was surrounded by riot police officers.