Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has pleaded guilty on the opening day of his trial in Tokyo. The 45-year-old admitted to shooting Abe multiple times during a political campaign event in Nara in 2022, saying, “Everything is true,” according to local media reports.
Yamagami used a homemade firearm in the fatal attack, which shocked Japan and reverberated across the globe. Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was known for his nationalist foreign policy stance and economic reforms branded as Abenomics. He was pronounced dead in hospital hours after the shooting.
Investigations revealed that Yamagami’s motive stemmed from anger toward the Unification Church, a controversial religious movement often referred to as the “Moonies.” He reportedly told investigators he targeted Abe because he believed the former leader promoted the church, which he blamed for his family’s financial ruin.
Yamagami claimed his mother had donated nearly 100 million yen (about $660,000) to the church, leading to the family’s bankruptcy. His statements sparked national outrage and scrutiny of the deep ties between members of Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the church. The revelations triggered resignations of four government ministers and renewed debate about the separation of religion and politics in Japan.
Earlier this year, a Tokyo court ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church, stripping it of tax exemptions and mandating liquidation of its assets. Despite this, Yamagami’s mother remains a committed follower and is expected to testify during the ongoing trial.
Yamagami’s legal team has disputed certain charges, particularly violations of Japan’s arms control laws, arguing that his improvised weapon did not fit the official definition of a firearm. The high-profile trial is expected to continue until January 2026.
