Man Who Killed Japan’s Ex-PM Shinzo Abe Pleads Guilty After Three Years

NARA, JAPAN — The man accused of assassinating Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty on Tuesday, three years after the shooting that stunned one of the world’s safest nations and reshaped Japan’s political and social discourse.

“Everything is true,” said Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, as he admitted to killing the country’s longest-serving leader in July 2022 during a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.

Led into the courtroom by four guards, Yamagami appeared calm and spoke softly when asked to confirm his name, wearing a black T-shirt and with his long hair tied back. His defense team, however, said they would challenge some charges — particularly those related to violations of Japan’s arms control laws, as the murder weapon was homemade.

Trial Delays and Religious Motives

The trial had been delayed after a 2023 court evacuation when a suspicious object was found — later determined harmless. A key issue in the proceedings is whether Yamagami’s actions were influenced by years of “religious abuse” linked to his family’s involvement with the Unification Church, according to local media.

Yamagami’s mother reportedly donated about 100 million yen ($1 million) to the Church, leaving the family bankrupt. He allegedly blamed Abe for supporting the controversial group, whose members — known as “Moonies” after founder Sun Myung Moon — have been accused of financial exploitation and neglect, claims the Church denies.

Investigations following Abe’s death uncovered deep connections between the Unification Church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), prompting the resignation of four cabinet ministers.

Earlier this year, the Tokyo District Court ordered the dissolution of the Church’s Japanese branch, citing “unprecedented damage” caused to society.

National Shock and Stricter Gun Laws

Abe’s assassination — carried out with a crude homemade firearm — shocked a nation where gun violence is virtually nonexistent. A subsequent police report revealed that officers on the scene initially failed to recognize the gunfire, delaying their response.

The tragedy spurred lawmakers to pass tougher gun control legislation in 2024, targeting the spread of information on firearm production and illegal sales. Under the new law, sharing online tutorials for making guns or promoting illicit sales can now lead to fines or up to one year in prison.

The case continues to resonate deeply in Japan, exposing the intersection of politics, religion, and public safety, while reopening painful debates about the nation’s modern democracy and its relationship with power and faith.

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