The gunman who killed Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe was found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment on Wednesday, more than three years after the unprecedented broad-daylight assassination
that stunned the nation and the world.
Judge Shinichi Tanaka delivered the verdict at a court in the city of Nara, where long queues formed early in the morning as members of the public waited for passes to attend the hearing, underscoring the intense interest in the case.
The accused, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, faced multiple charges, including murder and violations of Japan’s firearms control laws, for using a homemade gun to shoot Abe during an election campaign speech in July 2022.
When the trial began in October, Yamagami admitted to murder but disputed some of the other charges. Under Japan’s legal system, proceedings continue even when a defendant acknowledges guilt.
The killing forced a rare national reckoning in Japan, a country with extremely low levels of gun violence, and triggered wider scrutiny of links between conservative politicians and the Unification Church. Investigations following Abe’s death revealed connections between the Church and several lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, eventually leading to the resignation of four ministers.
Prosecutors described the murder as “unprecedented in post-war history” and sought a life sentence, citing its profound impact on society. They argued that the attack was carefully planned, noting that Yamagami spent months crafting and test-firing the weapon in remote areas.
During the trial, prosecutors said Yamagami’s motive was rooted in anger toward the Unification Church, which he blamed for ruining his family. The court heard that his mother’s heavy donations to the Church, totalling about 100 million yen, pushed the family into bankruptcy and derailed his education. The defence sought leniency, arguing that Yamagami’s upbringing was marked by what it described as “religious abuse” and personal tragedy.
Japan’s system of life imprisonment technically allows for parole, though experts say many inmates never leave prison. Abe’s assassination also exposed security lapses, with investigators later noting that officers at the scene initially failed to recognise the sound of gunfire, highlighting how rare such violence is in Japan.
