A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami, the man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, to life imprisonment, bringing legal closure to a case that shook the nation and exposed decades-long ties between Japan’s ruling party and a controversial South Korean church.
The Nara District Court found the 45-year-old Yamagami guilty of murder for the July 2022 killing of Abe during an election campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, citing the gravity of the crime and the danger posed to the public at a crowded political event.
Yamagami pleaded guilty when the trial began in October, admitting he used a homemade firearm to shoot Abe at close range. Japan has some of the world’s strictest gun control laws, making the killing particularly shocking.
Defence lawyer Takashi Fumimoto said the court rejected the defense’s plea for leniency, describing the ruling as “regrettable.” He added that the legal team would consider filing an appeal after consulting with Yamagami.
Motive Linked to Hatred of Unification Church
Investigators said Yamagami was motivated by resentment toward the Unification Church, also known as the Moonies, which he blamed for financial and emotional hardships suffered by his family. He told authorities he targeted Abe after seeing a video message the former leader sent to an organization affiliated with the church.
Yamagami reportedly said his intention was not personal revenge against Abe, but rather to expose the former prime minister’s perceived ties to the church. He initially planned to assassinate the church’s leader but shifted his focus to Abe due to security constraints.
Japanese law allows for the death penalty in murder cases, but prosecutors typically reserve such requests for cases involving multiple victims.
The assassination triggered intense scrutiny of links between the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, relationships that date back to anti-communist movements of the 1960s supported by Abe’s grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.
Following public outrage, the ruling party distanced itself from the church, and government investigations ultimately led a court to revoke the church’s tax-exempt religious status and order its dissolution. The church has appealed the ruling, and a final decision is pending.
Abe’s Political Legacy
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving postwar prime minister, led the country for a combined nine years before stepping down in 2021. Known for his conservative stance on security and historical issues, he maintained close ties with right-wing groups and forged a strong relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
His ideological legacy continues through figures such as Sanae Takaichi, his political protégé, who took office in October as Japan’s first female prime minister.
Public Reaction and Legal Reform
Despite the severity of the crime, Yamagami has drawn sympathy from segments of the public critical of the Unification Church’s practices. Thousands signed petitions seeking leniency, while his case helped spur legislation aimed at curbing coercive donation practices by religious organizations.
During earlier court proceedings, Yamagami apologized to Abe’s widow, Akie Abe, saying he bore no resentment toward the former leader’s family.
