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Court hands down life imprisonment for Abe's assassin
Tetsuya Yamagami, the man who fatally shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, has been sentenced to life in prison by the Nara District Court. The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, concludes a trial that has deeply divided public sentiment in Japan.
Background of the assassination
Yamagami, 45, shot Abe twice during a campaign rally in the city of Nara on 8 July 2022. The attack, carried out with a homemade firearm, shocked a nation where gun violence is exceptionally rare. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was 67 at the time of his death.
At the opening of his trial in October 2025, Yamagami admitted to the murder but argued that his actions stemmed from a long-standing grievance against the Unification Church, a controversial religious group. His defence team sought leniency, describing him as a victim of "religious abuse."
Court's ruling and public reaction
Judge Shinichi Tanaka described the killing as "despicable and extremely malicious," noting that Yamagami had shot Abe from behind when he was least expecting it. The courtroom was packed with nearly 700 spectators, reflecting the widespread public interest in the case.
While prosecutors argued that Yamagami's "grave act" warranted life imprisonment, his defence team had pushed for a maximum 20-year sentence, citing his troubled upbringing and the financial ruin caused by his mother's donations to the Unification Church. Yamagami's mother reportedly gave the church 100 million yen ($633,000; £471,000) from his late father's life insurance and other family assets.
"Everything is true. There is no doubt that I did this," Yamagami stated solemnly during his trial.
Motives and controversies
Yamagami initially planned to target executives of the Unification Church but shifted his focus to Abe after seeing the former prime minister's video message at a church-related event in 2021. However, prosecutors and judges questioned the logic of directing his resentment toward Abe, who was not a member of the church but had occasional ties to it.
Abe's widow, Akie, expressed her grief in an emotional statement to the court, saying the sorrow of losing her husband "will never be relieved." Journalist Eito Suzuki, who covered the trial, recalled her look of disbelief when Yamagami claimed Abe was not his primary target.
"It conveyed a sense of shock, like she was asking: Was my husband merely a tool used to settle a grudge against the religious organisation? Is that all it was?"
Eito Suzuki, Journalist
Broader fallout and scrutiny of the Unification Church
Abe's assassination prompted nationwide investigations into the Unification Church and its practices, including allegations of coercing followers into making financially ruinous donations. The church, founded in South Korea in the 1950s, has long been controversial for its mass wedding ceremonies and aggressive fundraising tactics.
In March 2025, a Tokyo court revoked the church's status as a religious corporation, ruling that it exploited followers' fears about their spiritual well-being to pressure them into purchasing expensive items. The case also exposed ties between the church and politicians from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, leading to the resignations of several cabinet ministers.
Yamagami's sister provided tearful testimony during the trial, describing the "dire circumstances" her family endured due to their mother's involvement with the church. Her account moved many in the courtroom, highlighting the personal toll of the church's influence.
Divided opinions on justice and sympathy
Public opinion in Japan remains split over Yamagami's sentence. While many view him as a cold-blooded murderer, others sympathise with his troubled background and the financial devastation caused by his mother's donations to the church.
Sociologist Rin Ushiyama of Queen's University Belfast noted that sympathy for Yamagami reflects "widespread distrust and antipathy" toward the Unification Church in Japan. However, Ushiyama emphasised that while Yamagami was a victim of neglect and hardship, this does not justify his actions.
"Yamagami was certainly a 'victim' of parental neglect and economic hardship caused by the [Unification Church], but this does not explain, let alone justify, his [actions]."
Rin Ushiyama, Sociologist
Journalist Eito Suzuki echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Yamagami's case underscores how societal failures can drive individuals to commit extreme acts. "This chain must be broken," Suzuki said. "We must properly examine why he committed the crime."
