The man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will go on trial Tuesday, three years after the killing shocked Japan and drew global condemnation in a country where gun violence is exceedingly rare.
Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, was arrested at the scene of the shooting in July 2022 after allegedly firing a homemade gun at Abe while the former leader was delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.
The attack, captured on video, stunned the nation and prompted renewed debate over political security and the regulation of extremist behavior.
Yamagami has reportedly told investigators he targeted Abe because of the former premier’s ties to the Unification Church, a South Korea-based religious group founded in 1954.
Local media reported that Yamagami harbored resentment toward the church after his mother made donations totaling about 100 million yen (approximately $663,000), which he said ruined his family financially.
The Unification Church, known for its mass wedding ceremonies, has long counted Japan among its most important sources of funding and membership. The group’s connections to Japanese politicians have come under intense scrutiny since Abe’s death.
Court officials said Yamagami is expected to admit to murder but will dispute parts of the indictment related to alleged violations of the Firearms and Swords Control Act and Ordnance Manufacturing Act, which pertain to the construction and use of his improvised weapon.
The trial, which begins at 2 p.m. (0500 GMT) at the Nara District Court, is scheduled to include 17 additional hearings before year-end, with a verdict expected on January 21.
The proceedings coincide with a high-profile summit in Tokyo between Japan’s current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a longtime Abe ally, and U.S. President Donald Trump, underscoring the continued political resonance of Abe’s legacy both domestically and abroad.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
