TOKYO, JAPAN
The man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pleaded guilty to murder in a high-profile trial that has reignited debate over Japan’s political and religious ties.
The suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, appeared before the Nara District Court and admitted to fatally shooting Abe during a campaign rally in Nara City in July 2022. Yamagami confessed to using a homemade firearm to carry out the attack, which shocked Japan and the world.
Prosecutors said Yamagami deliberately targeted Abe over his alleged connection to the Unification Church, a religious organisation his mother had donated large sums of money to — a move that reportedly plunged their family into financial hardship.
In court, Yamagami acknowledged the killing but contested certain charges related to the illegal possession and manufacture of firearms.
The tragic assassination of Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, stunned a nation known for its low crime rate and strict gun control laws. The incident also prompted the government to review security arrangements for public officials and re-examine links between political figures and religious groups.
The trial, which is being closely monitored internationally, is expected to continue for several weeks as both prosecution and defence present further evidence and testimonies.
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