Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reiterated Thursday that holding a state funeral for former leader Shinzo Abe is "appropriate," given his achievements as the country's longest-serving leader.
With opposition to the slain former leader's state funeral mounting, Kishida appeared in a parliamentary session to debate the Sept. 27 event for Abe, who was fatally shot by a lone gunman during an election campaign speech in early July.
To offer condolences across the nation, the government "needs" to hold the funeral as a "state event," Kishida said.