Crown Prince Akishino and six other imperial family members will attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week, the Imperial Household Agency announced Wednesday.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako will not join the state-funded ceremony next Tuesday as it is customary for emperors not to make appearances at funerals at home or abroad. The couple made a rare exception when they attended Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral on Monday.
The prospective funeral attendees from the imperial family at the Nippon Budokan arena in Tokyo are the crown prince, Crown Princess Kiko, their second daughter Princess Kako, as well as Princess Nobuko, widow of Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, their first daughter Princess Akiko, Princess Hisako, widow of Prince Takamado, and their first daughter Princess Tsuguko.