With prayers, flowers and flags draped in black ribbons, Japan bids a tearful farewell to its longest-serving PM, who was gunned down at a campaign rally last week.
From early morning, long lines of people dressed in black, mixed with others in informal clothing and wearing backpacks, had formed outside the temple.Others gathered in front of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party headquarters to make offerings and write tributes at a makeshift shrine that will be in place until Friday.Mourners spoke of losing a much-loved leader who provided continuity and stability to Japan during two terms as prime minister.
"There was a sense of security when he was the prime minister in charge of the country," 58-year-old school teacher Keiko Noumi said.After the ceremony, the hearse bearing Abe's body proceeded through downtown Tokyo. It took in the capital's political heart of Nagatacho, including the parliament building where Mr Abe first entered as a young politician in 1993.As tributes poured in from international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, the people of Japan paid their final respects to a sometimes polarising figure whose global influence lingered after stepping down as prime minister in 2020.Mr Abe won six elections and was first elected prime minister in 2006.
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