Three years after the shocking assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the trial of suspect Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, opened on Tuesday in Nara, Japan. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier, was shot with a homemade gun while campaigning in July 2022 an act that stunned the nation and drew global attention.
Courtroom Admission
Appearing calm in court, Yamagami reportedly told the judges, “It is true that I did it,” according to NHK. His lawyer argued for leniency, claiming the weapon used did not legally qualify as a handgun under Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Act.
Motive
Yamagami is said to have targeted Abe over his ties to the Unification Church, a religious group his mother had donated nearly 100 million yen ($660,000) to, leaving the family financially ruined. The killing exposed deep links between the church and members of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party, triggering political fallout.
Political Context
The trial opened on the same day as a summit between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump, both close allies of Abe. Trump called Abe “a great friend” as he met Japan’s first female leader in Tokyo.
Why It Matters
Abe’s assassination marked one of Japan’s darkest political moments in decades and prompted scrutiny of the relationship between politics and religious groups. The trial’s outcome could reshape public trust in Japan’s ruling establishment.
What’s Next
The court has scheduled 17 more hearings before a January 21 verdict. The case will test how Japan’s justice system balances motive, remorse, and the rarity of political violence in one of the world’s safest democracies.
With information from Reuters.
