Japan: The man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday, more than three years after the daylight killing stunned Japan.
Judge Shinichi Tanaka handed down the sentence to Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, at a court in the western city of Nara. Yamagami had admitted to fatally shooting Abe in July 2022 while the former leader was delivering a campaign speech. The attack sent shockwaves through a nation known for strict gun laws and low violent crime.
Under Japan’s legal system, a life sentence allows for the possibility of parole, though legal experts note that many inmates serving such terms never leave prison. Prosecutors had pushed for life imprisonment, arguing that the killing was without precedent in Japan’s post-war era and had caused serious and lasting damage to society. They said the crime went beyond the loss of a former leader, shaking public confidence and political stability.
At the opening of the trial in October, prosecutors said Yamagami’s actions were driven by resentment toward the Unification Church and a desire to damage its public standing. They argued that targeting a figure as influential as Abe was intended to draw national attention to the group and intensify criticism of it.
The defence sought a lighter sentence of up to 20 years, pointing to the hardship suffered by Yamagami’s family after his mother donated her life savings to the church, leaving them in financial distress.
Public interest in the case remained intense. Crowds gathered early on Wednesday morning to secure tickets to enter the courtroom, reflecting how deeply the assassination continues to resonate in Japan.
Abe’s killing exposed long-standing ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church, an organisation often described as a cult. An internal investigation later revealed that more than 100 lawmakers had connections with the group, prompting voter backlash against the LDP, which has governed Japan for most of the period since World War II.
Japanese media reported that Yamagami told the court he directed his anger at Abe because the former prime minister had once sent a video message to an event linked to a church-affiliated organisation.
Founded in South Korea in 1954, the Unification Church is known for mass wedding ceremonies and has relied heavily on donations from followers in Japan.
Abe, a polarising figure at home, was a major presence on the global stage. He developed a close relationship with US President Donald Trump and was the first foreign leader to meet him after his 2016 election victory. Their personal rapport became a defining feature of Abe’s international profile.
Abe served a total of 3,188 days as Prime Minister across two terms before stepping down in September 2020 due to health issues. His political protégé, Sanae Takaichi, now leads both Japan and the LDP, though the party’s dominance has weakened following the loss of its parliamentary majorities.
