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Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'State Funeral' (国葬儀)

Relive 2022 through the trending words of the year! A phrase reflecting on the death of Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe comes in at 3rd on our list. 

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Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'Bad Weak Yen' (悪い円安)
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As 2022 comes to an end, JAPAN Forward has picked up 5 top trending words to relive some of the year's main stories with our readers. 

Previously we looked at No. 5, Bad Weak Yen (warui enyasu, 悪い円安). Next we recalled trending word No. 4, Second Generation Religion (shukyo nisei, 宗教2世), and the shadows of the Unification Church. 

Today, we look at Trending word No. 3, the State Funeral (国葬儀) of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This was another theme which was widely discussed in Japan in 2022.

3. State Funeral (国葬儀)

The assassination of Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest serving prime minister of the postwar era, shocked the nation and the world. 

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In a moment of mourning shortly after Abe's death, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan would hold a state funeral for the former leader.  

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presents message to Shinzo Abe at the State Funeral with some of the official flower gifts in the background.

In the period before the state funeral, JAPAN Forward published many accounts of experts and contributors reflecting on the achievements of Shinzo Abe. A selection is below: 

In the lead up to the funeral, pushback from some opposition party politicians led to a detailed discussion among policy makers about the price and propriety of holding a state funeral. 

Ultimately, on September 27 the state funeral took place in a dignified ceremony, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and former premier Yoshihide Suga delivered speeches remembering Abe. 

Dignitaries and politicians from abroad posted their respects on Twitter. Tens of thousands queued in the sun to leave flowers for the former prime minister, and hundreds of thousands left remembrances through Digital flower offerings via Arigatou Abesan.

Mourners line up from Yotsuya Station to Chidorigafuchi waiting to give flowers in memory of Shinzo Abe on September 27.

It was a historical moment for Japan and the free world. But there is one more theme which shocked the world the most in 2022. That is coming up next. 

Check in tomorrow for Trending Word No. 2 on our list. 

Author: JAPAN Forward

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