The state funeral planned to be held for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sept. 27 will cost an estimated ?1.66 billion ($11.8 million) once the price of security and welcoming overseas dignitaries is factored in, the government announced Tuesday.

The original estimate ¡ª which only took into account the cost of renting and preparing the Budokan arena in central Tokyo, and didn¡¯t cover additional security for the estimated 6,400 attendees ¡ª was ?250 million.

Justifying the increase in spending, which the government has confirmed will be drawn from the national budget, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that, while it was difficult to accurately predict total costs, announcing the estimate was necessary ¡°from the standpoint of providing a thorough explanation¡± to the public.

¡°Based on responses so far, we expect in excess of 190 countries to send delegations to the funeral, while we assume that of that number, 50 will require special conditions for their reception,¡± he said, adding that around ?600 million will be allocated for the reception of foreign dignitaries.

Of that ?600 million, ?500 million will go toward the provision of vehicles, accommodation and airport reception, while ?100 million will be allocated to travel and other expenses for Japanese diplomatic mission staff temporarily recalled to handle the arrival of the overseas dignitaries.

The remainder of the ?1.66 billion will go toward travel expenses for an influx of prefectural police for the event and their overtime wages, as well as the provision of equipment, a Self-Defense Forces guard of honor and the rental of equipment and space for the funeral itself.

Commenting on the rise in the budget, Jun Azumi, parliamentary affairs committee chair for the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said that the government had ¡°insisted the costs would amount to ?250 million, but the figure has jumped to 6.6 times that amount, which seems like a haphazard way of going about things.¡±

One poll conducted over the weekend by the Yomiuri Shimbun found that 56% of the public were opposed to the state funeral plan, while 38% said they were in support of it going ahead as planned.

Elsewhere, protest organizers have claimed that an estimated 4,000 people gathered outside the parliamentary buildings in Tokyo on Aug. 31 to call for the state funeral¡¯s cancellation, while a further 400,000 people signed an online petition expressing their opposition.