Abe's State Funeral To Draw Dignitaries From Around The World
Hundreds of foreign dignitaries are expected to attend the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, scheduled to take place in Tokyo in late September.
The Japanese government has sent out notices regarding the event to about 200 countries and territories, plus some 80 international organizations.
Government officials say the United States is considering sending Vice President Kamala Harris for the occasion, as President Joe Biden has scheduling difficulties.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are among the leaders whose visits are being arranged. Modi was close to Abe, who invited the Indian leader to his private villa.
Former US President Barack Obama may also attend. When they were in office in 2016, Obama and Abe jointly visited Hiroshima in Japan and Pearl Harbor in Hawaii -- two key sites in World War Two.
Another possible participant is former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who was well-acquainted with Abe through their appearances at international conferences.
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is also said to have signaled his intention to attend.
One leader who is expected to be absent is Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Japanese government has notified Moscow of the state funeral, but the Kremlin has said Putin has no plans to join the event.
Abe was fatally shot while giving an election campaign speech in the western Japanese city of Nara in July.