National Police Agency Commissioner General Yasuhiro Tsuyuki (2nd from L) inspects the vicinity of Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo on Sept. 21, 2022, ahead of the state funeral of slain former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe being held there on Sept. 27. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

TOKYO - Japan will ask foreign guests attending the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week to wear protective face masks to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the top government spokesman said Thursday.