<p>Japan plans a state funeral on Sept. 27 for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was shot to death at a campaign rally this month, a government official and leading ruling party source said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>An official decision will be made at a cabinet meeting on Friday, they added.</p>.<p>The site will be the Nippon Budokan, an arena originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games that has since been a popular venue for sports events and concerts as well as the site for a memorial service for World War Two dead held every year on Aug. 15.</p>.<p>Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week that Abe, 67, would be given a state funeral in recognition of being Japan's longest-serving prime minister as well as his contributions to Japan and the world.</p>.<p>The last such state funeral for a former prime minister, in which the government bears full costs for the ceremony, was held in 1967 for ex-premier Shigeru Yoshida. Costs for more recent funerals were borne half by the state and half by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).</p>.<p>The issue has set off a debate throughout Japan, with opponents objecting to the use of tax money and others saying the LDP is making political use of Abe's death.</p>.<p>An opinion poll conducted at the weekend by public broadcaster NHK found 49% of respondents in favour of the idea and 38% against it.</p>.<p>Those aged 18-39 were most in favour, at 61%, while those in their 60s were most against at 51%.</p>
<p>Japan plans a state funeral on Sept. 27 for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was shot to death at a campaign rally this month, a government official and leading ruling party source said on Wednesday.</p>.<p>An official decision will be made at a cabinet meeting on Friday, they added.</p>.<p>The site will be the Nippon Budokan, an arena originally built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games that has since been a popular venue for sports events and concerts as well as the site for a memorial service for World War Two dead held every year on Aug. 15.</p>.<p>Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said last week that Abe, 67, would be given a state funeral in recognition of being Japan's longest-serving prime minister as well as his contributions to Japan and the world.</p>.<p>The last such state funeral for a former prime minister, in which the government bears full costs for the ceremony, was held in 1967 for ex-premier Shigeru Yoshida. Costs for more recent funerals were borne half by the state and half by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).</p>.<p>The issue has set off a debate throughout Japan, with opponents objecting to the use of tax money and others saying the LDP is making political use of Abe's death.</p>.<p>An opinion poll conducted at the weekend by public broadcaster NHK found 49% of respondents in favour of the idea and 38% against it.</p>.<p>Those aged 18-39 were most in favour, at 61%, while those in their 60s were most against at 51%.</p>