Shinzo Abe’s Assassin Pleads Guilty to Murder

The man accused of assassinating Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has pleaded guilty. Tetsuya Yamagami admitted to the murder in a Nara court on Tuesday, more than three years after the shocking daytime shooting.

The 2022 killing of Japan’s longest-serving leader sent shockwaves globally. It prompted intense scrutiny of the South Korea-based Unification Church. Yamagami, 45, confirmed the charges against him were accurate.

“Everything is true,” Yamagami told the court.

He appeared in a black T-shirt with his long hair tied back. Security officials escorted him into the courtroom. His voice was barely audible as he stated his name for the judge.

His legal team, however, plans to challenge some charges. They will dispute alleged violations of arms control laws for using a handmade firearm.

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The trial faced delays after a security scare last year. A suspicious item caused the evacuation of the Nara courthouse, though the object was later deemed harmless.

Religious Abuse Central to the Case

A key aspect of the defense involves claims of “religious abuse.” Japanese media report that Yamagami’s childhood was marred by his mother’s extreme donations to the Unification Church.

Yamagami reportedly held a grudge against Shinzo Abe over the former leader’s perceived links to the group. He blamed the Church for his family’s bankruptcy after his mother donated roughly 100 million yen.

The assassination exposed deep ties between the Church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The revelations led to the resignation of several government ministers.

Earlier this year, a Tokyo court ordered the dissolution of the Church’s Japanese branch. The court cited the “unprecedented damage” the organization inflicted on society.

A National Wake-Up Call on Security

The assassination was a profound shock for a nation with extremely strict gun laws. A subsequent police report found that security officials failed to recognize the first shot. Their delayed response proved fatal.

The incident spurred lawmakers to action. In 2024, Japan passed a new bill to further strengthen arms control. The law aims to prevent the creation of homemade weapons.

It now criminalizes uploading firearm-making tutorials or promoting gun sales on social media. Violators face fines or imprisonment for up to one year.