A man accused of killing former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has pleaded guilty on the first day of his trial. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told a court in the capital Tokyo that 'everything is true', according to local media. Yamagami used a homemade gun to shoot Abe during a political campaign event in the western city of Nara in 2022. Abe, known for his hawkish foreign policy and the economic strategy 'Abenomics', was struck several times and died in hospital later that day, sending shockwaves around the world.
The assassination brought to light links between Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, commonly referred to as the 'Moonies'. Yamagami reportedly told investigators that he targeted Abe because he blamed the 67-year-old for promoting the church, which he claims bankrupted his mother and affected their entire family. Allegedly, his mother made donations totaling about 100 million yen (approximately $660,000) in support of the church, which is infamous for its large-scale weddings.
This revelation led to investigations into the church, resulting in the resignation of four ministers. In March of this year, a Tokyo court ordered the disbandment of the church, removing its tax-exempt status and mandating the liquidation of its assets. However, Yamagami’s mother, who is expected to be called as a witness, has reportedly stood by her beliefs, stating that the killing has reinforced her faith, according to the Japan Times.
Yamagami's trial is not expected to conclude until January, as he denies violating arms control laws, with his lawyer arguing that the homemade weapon does not fit the legal definition. Since Abe's assassination, Japan has tightened its regulations concerning homemade firearms.
The assassination brought to light links between Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, commonly referred to as the 'Moonies'. Yamagami reportedly told investigators that he targeted Abe because he blamed the 67-year-old for promoting the church, which he claims bankrupted his mother and affected their entire family. Allegedly, his mother made donations totaling about 100 million yen (approximately $660,000) in support of the church, which is infamous for its large-scale weddings.
This revelation led to investigations into the church, resulting in the resignation of four ministers. In March of this year, a Tokyo court ordered the disbandment of the church, removing its tax-exempt status and mandating the liquidation of its assets. However, Yamagami’s mother, who is expected to be called as a witness, has reportedly stood by her beliefs, stating that the killing has reinforced her faith, according to the Japan Times.
Yamagami's trial is not expected to conclude until January, as he denies violating arms control laws, with his lawyer arguing that the homemade weapon does not fit the legal definition. Since Abe's assassination, Japan has tightened its regulations concerning homemade firearms.
