Key Facts
• Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 67, was fatally shot during a speech in Nara in 2022.
• Suspect Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, admitted to all charges, including murder and firearm violations.
• Trial began on October 28, 2025, at Nara District Court under Judge Shinichi Tanaka.
• Yamagami used a handmade firearm to carry out the attack on July 8, 2022.
• Prosecution claims Yamagami targeted Abe to draw attention to the Unification Church’s practices.
• Yamagami’s mother had made significant donations to the church, influencing his motives.
• Defense argues Yamagami’s upbringing involved abuse, impacting his actions and mental state.
• Prosecution emphasized the unprecedented societal impact of the assassination.
• Trial will include 19 sessions, with testimony from Yamagami’s mother and religious scholars.
• Verdict expected on January 21, 2026, following conclusion on December 18, 2025.
Summary
The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, commenced on October 28, 2025. Yamagami admitted to the charges, including murder and firearm violations, but his defense highlighted his abusive upbringing and the influence of his mother’s financial ties to the Unification Church. The prosecution argued that Yamagami targeted Abe to spotlight the church’s activities, emphasizing the unprecedented societal impact of the crime. The trial, consisting of 19 sessions, will feature testimony from key witnesses, with a verdict expected in January 2026.
