The man accused of assassinating Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has pleaded guilty, three years after the shocking broad-daylight attack.
Appearing before a court in Nara on Tuesday, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, admitted to the killing of the country’s longest-serving leader in July 2022.
“Everything is true,” Yamagami said quietly in court, confirming his role in the shooting that stunned Japan and the world. He was escorted into the courtroom by four security officials, dressed in a black T-shirt, with his hair tied back.
Although Yamagami admitted to Abe’s murder, his lawyer told the court they would contest some charges, including alleged violations of arms control laws relating to the use of a homemade gun.
The trial comes after several delays, including a dramatic 2023 incident in which a suspicious package, later deemed harmless, led to the evacuation of the Nara courthouse.
Motive Linked To Religious Sect
Central to Yamagami’s case is his claim of being a victim of “religious abuse” as a child. His mother, a devoted member of the Unification Church, reportedly donated around 100 million yen ($1 million) to the sect, leaving the family bankrupt.
Local media reported that Yamagami resented Abe for his perceived ties to the Church, established in South Korea in 1954. The organisation, whose members are known as “Moonies,” has long faced allegations of exploiting followers through excessive financial demands, accusations it denies.
The aftermath of Abe’s assassination exposed widespread connections between the Church and many conservative lawmakers in Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The revelations forced four cabinet ministers to resign.
Earlier in 2025, the Tokyo District Court ordered the dissolution of the Church’s Japanese branch, citing “unprecedented damage” caused to society.
Japan, known for some of the world’s strictest gun laws, was jolted by the assassination. A police report later revealed that security officers at the scene failed to immediately recognise the sound of the first gunshot, causing a fatal delay in responding to Abe.
The incident prompted the Japanese parliament in 2024 to tighten arms control legislation, including banning the online posting of firearm-making tutorials and criminalising social media promotion of illegal gun sales. Offenders now face fines or up to a year in prison.
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