Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Japan to attend Shinzo Abe’s state funeral

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived today to attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The PM will attend the state funeral ceremony in Budokan. The ceremony will begin at 10:30 am IST at Nippon Budokan in central Tokyo. Representatives from 100 countries, including 20 heads of government, will be present to take part in the funeral. Modi will also pay a courtesy call on Shinzo Abe’s wife Akie Abe to offer condolences.

First meeting with current PM Fumio Kishida

First of all, today Modi will visit Akasaka Palace in Tokyo. During this there will be a brief bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in which people from both sides will be present. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida had visited India in March this year and Prime Minister Modi had gone there in May to attend the Quad meeting. Modi will leave from Japan this evening and is expected to reach Delhi after midnight. Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe, was shot dead by an assailant on July 8 during an election campaign in the country’s western region.

Modi told Abe his dear friend

Significantly, there was a lot of closeness between Prime Minister Modi and Abe. Condoling Abe’s death, Modi described him as a “dear friend” and said the former Japanese prime minister had dedicated his life to making the world a better place.

Narendra Modi’s schedule according to Indian time

• Indian PM Narendra Modi will have bilateral talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at 10 am.
• Will attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at 10:30 am.
• At 3 p.m. Shinzo will also call on Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, to express condolences.