Japan to Hold Funeral for Obuchi June 8The Japanese government and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) decided Monday to hold a funeral for former Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on June 8, the Kyodo News reported.The funeral will be held at the Nippon Budokan martial arts hall in Tokyo's central Kudan district, with Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori chairing the funeral committee, the report quoted political sources as saying. They took into account Emperor Akihito's return from a European tour on June 1, Mori's anticipated dissolution of the House of Representatives on June 2 and the likely official June 13 start of campaigns for lower house elections expected June 25. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Mikio Aoki is expected to officially announce the funeral date at a press conference Monday afternoon, the report said. Obuchi, who had been hospitalized in Tokyo since early April, died of the aftereffects of a stroke Sunday afternoon. A wake for Obuchi will be held Monday evening and a family funeral will be held Tuesday. |
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