Japan has bid farewell to assassinated former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe with a rare state funeral that has divided the nation.

Abe was gunned down on July 8 while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.

Some 4,000 mourners – including Japan’s crown prince Akishino, United States Vice President Kamala Harris, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Australian Prime Minister Antony Albanese – attended Tuesday’s ceremony for Abe.

Outside, at a nearby park, thousands of Japanese people had queued up to offer floral tributes to the slain politician. Some reported waiting for up to three hours.

But the state funeral has also prompted protests in downtown Tokyo, with demonstrators criticising Abe for his legacy of divisive policies as well as the $11.5m bill for the event.

A recent poll conducted by the Mainichi newspaper shows that some 62 percent of respondents do not approve of holding a state funeral for Abe.