Tetsuya Yamagami pleaded guilty to killing ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe, citing anger over Abe’s alleged ties to the Unification Church, whose influence has since sparked major political fallout.
The man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty on Tuesday, three years after the killing stunned Japan and the world.
Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, admitted in court in the western city of Nara that he fatally shot Abe during a campaign speech in July 2022. “Everything is true,” he told the judge, speaking softly as four guards escorted him into the courtroom.
His lawyer, however, said the defense would contest parts of the indictment, including charges related to Japan’s strict arms control laws. Yamagami allegedly used a handmade gun in the attack.
The trial’s delay was caused by a 2023 bomb scare that turned out to be harmless. The case has reignited debate over Japan’s limited experience with gun violence and the alleged links between conservative politicians and the Unification Church.
Yamagami reportedly targeted Abe because of his perceived ties to the Church, which he blamed for his family’s financial ruin after his mother donated about 100 million yen.
Following the assassination, investigations exposed deep connections between the group and ruling party lawmakers, forcing several ministers to resign and leading to a court order to dissolve the Church’s Japanese branch.