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Abe assassin expresses remorse to victim's family
The man accused of killing former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has publicly apologised to Abe's widow, Akie, during a court hearing in Nara on Thursday.
Guilty plea and admission of guilt
Tetsuya Yamagami, who has already pleaded guilty to murder, told the court he felt "deeply sorry" for the suffering he inflicted on Abe's family. He acknowledged that his actions had caused them three and a half years of pain, adding, "I have no excuse," according to local media reports.
Motive behind the attack
Yamagami reportedly targeted Abe due to his alleged ties to the Unification Church, a religious group he blamed for his mother's financial ruin. He used a homemade firearm to shoot Abe during a campaign event in Nara on 8 July 2022. Abe died later that day in hospital.
Fallout from the assassination
The killing sent shockwaves globally, as Abe was a prominent figure known for his hawkish foreign policy and economic reforms, dubbed "Abenomics." His death also reignited scrutiny of the Unification Church, which originated in South Korea and is controversial for its teachings on marriage and spiritual salvation.
Legal and political repercussions
In March 2025, a Tokyo court ordered the Unification Church to disband, a decision the group vowed to challenge. The church had faced criticism even before Abe's assassination, partly due to its alleged influence on Japanese politics. Abe's grandfather, former prime minister Nobusuke Kishi, was known to have ties to the group, and Abe himself had spoken at its events.
Widow's statement
During a hearing last month, prosecutors read a statement from Akie Abe, in which she wrote, "The sorrow of losing a husband will not be relieved."
