Accused Assassin Confesses to Killing Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe

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A man accused of fatally shooting former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe admitted to murder in the first hearing of the case, three years after the assassination of Japan’s longest-serving premier stunned the nation.

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, was arrested at the scene of the shooting in July 2022 after allegedly firing at Abe with a homemade gun while the former prime minister was giving a speech during an election campaign in the western city of Nara.

“It is true that I did it,” Yamagami, who appeared calm in a black sweatshirt and grey trousers with grown-out hair tied at the back, told the opening day of his trial on Tuesday, public broadcaster NHK reported.

A lawyer for Yamagami subsequently asked for any punishment to be reduced, saying the handmade gun he used did not fall within the category of handguns defined by Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Act, NHK added.

The opening of a high-profile trial coincided with a significant diplomatic meeting between Japan’s current Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, and the visiting U.S. President Donald Trump. This summit brought together two of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s allies, underscoring the continued influence of Abe’s legacy in international relations.

A Japanese man wearing a face mask is escorted by a police officer

The trial centers on Tetsuya Yamagami, who stands accused of assassinating Shinzo Abe during a campaign event in Nara City in July 2022. This tragic event shocked both Japan and the global community, as Abe had been a prominent figure in international politics.

During the summit, President Trump expressed his condolences and shared fond memories of Abe, emphasizing their close friendship. “He was a great friend of mine and a great friend of yours,” Trump remarked, as he warmly greeted Japan’s first female prime minister, highlighting the personal and political bonds forged during Abe’s tenure.

Founded in South Korea in 1954, the Unification Church is famous for its mass weddings and counts Japanese followers as a key source of income.

The shooting was followed by revelations that more than a hundred lawmakers of Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party had ties to it, driving down public support for the ruling party, which is now led by Takaichi.