Accused assassin of Japan’s Shinzo Abe confesses

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, confessed to the killing as his murder trial began Tuesday in Nara, western Japan. The 45-year-old told the court, “It is all true. There is no doubt that I have done all this,” after prosecutors described how he used a homemade firearm to shoot Abe twice during a 2022 campaign speech. The improvised weapon, made from two metal pipes taped to a wooden mount and powered by a battery circuit, was seized along with several other prototypes found in Yamagami’s home.

Details of the proceedings: During the hearing at the Nara District Court, prosecutors said Yamagami approached Abe from behind as he delivered a speech supporting a local candidate near Yamato-Saidaiji Station on July 8, 2022. They presented ballistic and forensic evidence showing that two shots left deep wounds to Abe’s neck and caused catastrophic internal bleeding to his chest. Authorities said Yamagami built multiple versions of the firearm after purchasing components online and testing them in rural areas months before the attack.
Motive linked to Unification Church: Investigators testified that Yamagami told police he targeted Abe because of his perceived ties to the Unification Church, which he blamed for his family’s financial ruin after his mother’s large donations to the religious group. The assassination prompted nationwide scrutiny of political links to the organization and led Japan’s parliament to pass a law in December 2022 tightening regulations on religious fundraising. The court is expected to continue hearings through the end of the year before issuing a verdict on January 21, 2026.

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