The top U.S. diplomat made a previously unscheduled visit to Japan on Monday, calling assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a "man of vision" as he offered his condolences in meetings with current leader Fumio Kishida and others in Tokyo.
Antony Blinken’s trip, which was added to his itinerary in the wake of the shocking killing of one of Japan’s most recognizable politicians, comes just a day after the country’s Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling bloc rolled to victory in an Upper House election.
Abe had been supporting an LDP candidate in the city of Nara when he was gunned down in broad daylight on Friday. A wake for Abe was set to take place later Monday at Tokyo’s Zojoji Temple, and a funeral for family members is planned for Tuesday at the same site. A public funeral is expected to be held in the coming days.