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Man Who Killed Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Sentenced to Life in Prison

By The South Asia Times

TOKYO - A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami, the 45-year-old man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, to life in prison, bringing a legal conclusion to one of Japan’s most shocking postwar crimes.

Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe with a homemade firearm while the former prime minister was delivering a campaign speech in Nara, a city in western Japan. The attack, carried out in broad daylight on July 8, 2022, stunned the nation and the world, highlighting gaps in security for public officials in Japan, a country where gun violence is extremely rare.

During the trial, Yamagami explained his motive stemmed from a deep personal grudge against the Unification Church, a religious organization with which Abe was reportedly associated. Yamagami’s family suffered financially after his mother made substantial donations to the church, which he claimed left them in ruin. He said his attack on Abe was intended as revenge for the hardships his family endured.

The assassination prompted a nationwide investigation into the financial practices of the Unification Church. Authorities examined the group’s solicitation methods, which in some cases drove members to severe debt. The probe led to new legislation restricting exploitative fundraising and ultimately contributed to the church’s dissolution.

Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was rushed to hospital after being shot but succumbed to his injuries, sparking a period of national mourning. The incident reignited debates over political security and the influence of religious organizations in Japanese politics.

The court’s life sentence underscores the gravity of the crime while providing a measure of closure after the assassination that shook Japan to its core. Authorities have said the verdict will also serve as a reminder of the need for robust protections for public figures and continued scrutiny of organizations that may exploit vulnerable individuals