TOKYO — Tetsuya Yamagami, the 45-year-old assassin who gunned down ex-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a crudely made firearm, received a life sentence Wednesday from Japan’s Nara District Court. The ruling comes nearly two years after the brazen daytime shooting in Nara that stunned the world and exposed deep fissures in Japanese society.
Prosecutors painted a picture of calculated murder, securing convictions on homicide and illegal firearms discharge charges. Yamagami, who showed no remorse in court, had meticulously assembled his weapon from everyday materials, firing it at Abe as the politician addressed supporters. Defense attorneys countered with tales of personal torment, seeking leniency by linking the crime to Yamagami’s abusive childhood and his mother’s ruinous ties to the Unification Church.
At the heart of Yamagami’s motive lay a personal vendetta: his family’s bankruptcy after his mother funneled 100 million yen to the controversial group, which he believed Abe supported politically. This revelation triggered widespread scrutiny of the church’s coercive donation practices, prompting legislative action. A new law now safeguards against exploitative fundraising, while courts have moved to dismantle the organization’s legal standing.
Abe, a towering figure in modern Japan, had shaped the nation’s trajectory through his ‘Abenomics’ agenda and strengthened alliances abroad. From his early days as an aide to his father, a former foreign minister, to leading the country for record time, his career was marked by resilience. The assassination during an election rally amplified debates on security lapses and cult influences in politics.
As Yamagami begins his life term, Japan grapples with the incident’s ripple effects—from church reforms to heightened political protections. The sentence delivers justice for Abe’s grieving family and supporters, while serving as a stern warning against vigilante justice rooted in unresolved grievances.
