Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, the man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has been sentenced to life imprisonment, more than three years after the horrific incident in July 2022. The broad daylight killing shocked not only Japan but the world.
The attack has sparked a deep discussion about gun violence in a country where such incidents are rare. It has also brought into sharp focus the alleged ties of several prominent conservative lawmakers to a secretive sect, the Unification Church. Judge Shinichi Tanaka presided over the sentencing in the Nara city court.
According to reports, Yamagami used a made-up gun to kill Abe while he was giving a campaign speech. He admitted to the murder but contested other charges filed against him. Under Japan's legal system, trials continue even if the accused admits guilt.
At trial, prosecutors explained that Yamagami's motive was to expose the Unification Church, which had bankrupted the family due to his mother's excessive donations to the sect. According to the defense, Yamagami grew up under "religious abuse" and was forced to give up on his dreams because of a family tragedy.
The incident has sparked a thorough investigation into the church's relationship with some conservative leaders in the government, leading to the resignation of four ministers. Prosecutors also cited a high level of premeditation in the crime, including the manufacture of the gun in a remote area. Abe's killing was a wake-up call for the country, which has strict gun laws, and has sparked deep discussions about security and social responsibility.
