A man who confessed to the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was sentenced to life in prison by a Japanese court on Wednesday. This case has brought to light longstanding connections between Japan’s ruling party and a controversial South Korean church.
Tetsuya Yamagami, aged 45, had previously admitted to murdering Abe in July 2022 during an election campaign speech in Nara, a city in western Japan. Abe, a prominent political figure in Japan, was fatally shot while campaigning in Nara in 2022, shocking a nation known for its strict gun control laws.
Yamagami pleaded guilty to the murder charges during the trial that commenced in October. The Nara District Court, on Wednesday, delivered a guilty verdict and imposed a life sentence on Yamagami, in line with the prosecution’s request.
According to investigators, Yamagami stated that he targeted Abe after watching a video message sent by the former prime minister to a group associated with the Unification Church. His intention was to bring harm to the church, which he held animosity towards, and expose its links with Abe.
While the prosecution sought a life sentence for Yamagami, his defense team advocated for a maximum sentence of 20 years, citing his upbringing as the child of a church follower. Although Japanese law permits the death penalty in murder cases, it is not typically pursued unless multiple victims are involved.
The revelation of close ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the church prompted the party to distance itself from the organization. Subsequent investigations led to a court decision revoking the tax-exempt religious status of the church’s Japanese branch and ordering its dissolution, a decision that is currently under appeal.
Following the incident, security measures for dignitaries were heightened by the National Police Agency. Abe was shot on July 8, 2022, during a campaign speech outside a train station in Nara. Yamagami, who was apprehended at the scene, confessed that he initially intended to target the leader of the Unification Church but switched his focus to Abe due to the leader’s heightened security.
Yamagami expressed remorse to Abe’s widow during a previous court hearing, emphasizing that his actions were not directed at the family. His case shed light on the offspring of Unification Church members in Japan and influenced legislation aimed at curbing deceptive fundraising practices by religious and similar groups.
Despite the severity of his crime, thousands of individuals signed a petition advocating for leniency towards Yamagami. Additionally, gestures of support, such as sending care packages to his relatives and the detention facility where he is held, have been extended by members of the public.
