The state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be held in Tokyo on 27 September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived to bid his last farewell to his friend Abe. Today PM Modi has met Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in Tokyo. Representatives of 100 countries including US Vice President Kamala Harris, British Foreign Secretary will attend the funeral program. Apart from this, 700 foreign guests will also be present.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. PM Modi said that today we are meeting in this hour of sorrow. The last time I came, I had a very long talk with Shinzo Abe and never thought that I would have to hear such news after leaving. He said that the friendship between India and Japan has played a huge role in creating a global impact. I am sure India-Japan relations will deepen under your leadership. We will be able to play a proper role in solving the problems in the world. Let us tell you that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe today.

This will be a symbolic final farewell to Shinzo Abe. Abe's funeral is estimated to cost 1.66 billion yen (about Rs 94 crore). At the same time, the estimated cost of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was 1.3 billion yen (about Rs 73.7 crore). However, the figures of the expenditure on the funeral of Elizabeth II have not been released. Let us tell you that on July 8 this year, Shinzo Abe was shot dead. After this, Abe's funeral took place on 15 July. In this sense, this funeral of Abe will be symbolic. At the same time, opponents say that due to lack of legal basis, Abe's state funeral is 'undemocratic' as well as a unilateral decision of the Kishida cabinet.

Opponents remember it as Abe's cover-up of wartime Japan's atrocities, his pressure for more military spending, his views on gender roles, dictatorial leadership, and supporters of the bourgeoisie.

The government says about $11.8 million will be spent on security, transportation and other arrangements for Abe's state funeral. A few hours before the funeral, guests will gather at Tokyo's Budokan Martial Arts Arena for a security check. No eatables will be allowed inside and the use of cameras will be allowed only for the media. About 1,000 Japanese troops will be stationed around the venue. After Abe's wife Aki Abe, representatives from the government, parliamentary and judicial systems, including Kishida, will condolence and address the people present.

US Vice President Kamala Harris will also be involved, strong security arrangements in Tokyo

-55 years ago there was a state funeral of former Japanese PM Shigeru Yoshida

Guests will gather at Tokyo's Budokan Martial Arts Arena for security checks

-1,000 Japanese troops will be stationed around the venue