The individual accused of murdering former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has entered a plea of guilty, marking a significant development in the case that stunned the nation three years ago. Tetsuya Yamagami, aged 45, is facing charges of homicide and breaching firearms regulations for allegedly using a makeshift gun to fatally shoot Japan’s longest-serving leader during a campaign speech in July 2022.
During the commencement of his trial in Nara, located in the western region, Yamagami affirmed the veracity of the accusations leveled against him. The court proceedings commenced amidst stringent security measures and are anticipated to conclude by mid-December, as reported by the Kyodo news agency.
Yamagami confessed to targeting Abe due to his animosity towards the Unification Church, which he believed had close affiliations with Abe and other Japanese politicians. He revealed to investigators that substantial contributions made by his mother to the church had precipitated his family’s financial downfall.
The Unification Church, established in South Korea following the conclusion of the Korean War in 1953, has been embroiled in numerous legal battles in Japan filed by families who allege that the organization coerced adherents into depleting their savings through donations. Despite enduring decades of controversy, the church maintained strong connections with Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and largely evaded official scrutiny.
Coinciding with the trial was a visit to Japan by US President Donald Trump for discussions with the new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a conservative apprentice of Abe. During their meeting in Tokyo, Takaichi emphasized her close relationship with the deceased leader, while Trump lauded Abe as a cherished ally.