A man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will finally stand trial on Tuesday, three years after the shocking shooting that rattled Japan — a country known for its low gun crime and rare instances of political violence.
Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, was arrested at the scene in Nara in July 2022 after allegedly using a homemade firearm to fatally shoot Abe during a campaign speech. The trial coincides with a summit between current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi — a former ally of Abe — and visiting U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to reports, Yamagami harbored resentment toward the Unification Church, blaming Abe for supporting the group. His mother had donated roughly 100 million yen (RM3 million / US$663,000) to the church, which left the family bankrupt. The Unification Church, founded in South Korea in 1954, is known for its mass weddings and has long maintained a significant following in Japan.
Court officials said Yamagami is expected to admit to Abe’s killing but will contest parts of the charges related to Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Act and the Ordnance Manufacturing Act.
The assassination led to widespread scrutiny of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party after it was revealed that more than 100 lawmakers had ties to the Unification Church. The controversy triggered a sharp decline in public trust toward the ruling party.
The Nara District Court will open proceedings at 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday (0500 GMT), with 17 additional hearings scheduled through the end of the year before a verdict is delivered on January 21.
