Japan: politicians attend ex-PM Hashimoto's funeral

Known as a tough trade negotiator with the U.S. and a supporter of financial reforms at home, Hashimoto died on July 1 from organ failure and septic shock. He was Japan's prime minister from January 1996 to July 1998.

Photo: Japan: politicians attend ex-PM Hashimoto's funeral

About 5,000 people were expected at the funeral at Budokan arena in Tokyo, officials estimated.

South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon and former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta were among the 246 foreign officials expected to attend, according to Foreign Ministry official Nobuko Kaneda.

Hashimoto "had exceptional visions for Japan in the 21st century and has boldly implemented reform programs that were painful but important," said Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

After he took office in 1996 as prime minister, Hashimoto made a series of controversial and unpopular fiscal decisions, including increasing the national sales tax and bailing out housing loan companies awash in bad loans.