Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'Bad Weak Yen' (悪い円安)
Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'Second Generation Religion' (宗教２世)
Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'Kyiv' (キーウ)
Japan's Trending Words in Our 2022 Stories: 'Murakami-sama' (村上様)
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.
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.
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:
- [Asia’s Next Page] Indo-Pacific at a Loss: The Abe Memoire
- Statesman and Defender: Shinzo Abe Will Be Missed
- Japan’s Political World Will Never Be the Same Without Shinzo Abe
- After Shinzo Abe: Carrying On the Torch of Freedom and Democracy in Asia
- Shinzo Abe: The Statesman Faced the Security Crisis and His Critics Head-on
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.
- EDITORIAL | Countries Mourn Abe, Japan’s Politicians Oppose State Funeral
- Poll: Younger Generations and Majority of LDP Supporters Say ‘Yes’ to Abe’s State Funeral
- EDITORIAL | Why a State Funeral? Abe Made Great Contributions to Japan and the World
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.
- Remembering Shinzo Abe: Memorial Address by Prime Minister Kishida Fumio On Behalf of Japan ーRead in Full
- A Prime Minister's Resolve: Assessing Kishida's Eulogy for Shinzo Abe
- Remembering Shinzo Abe: Former PM Suga’s Moving Eulogy On Behalf of Friends —Read in Full
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.
- Japan Says Goodbye to Shinzo Abe in State Funeral
- [SOCIAL WIRE] Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's State Funeral
- Remembering Shinzo Abe: Reflections On A State Funeral for a Crucial Player in the Fastest Growing Part of the World
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
