A Japanese court on Wednesday handed life imprisonment to Tetsuya Yamagami, the 45-year-old man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, an event that sent shockwaves across Japan more than three years ago. Yamagami, who had been apprehended on the spot in July 2022, used a homemade firearm to shoot Abe during a campaign rally in Nara. At the time, Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was 67 years old.
Yamagami’s confession during the first hearing at Nara District Court in October 2025 had made a guilty verdict almost inevitable, leaving only the sentencing as the central question of the trial. Judge Shinichi Tanaka, in delivering the verdict, denounced the act as “despicable” and highlighted the extreme danger of firing a weapon amid a large crowd. Prosecutors argued that the assassination represented “a uniquely grave incident in post-war Japan” and deserved life imprisonment. In contrast, the defense sought a reduced sentence of 20 years or less, pointing to Yamagami’s personal grievances tied to the Unification Church as the motivation for the attack.
Although Abe was no longer in office when he was killed, his influence within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) remained considerable, shaping both internal strategy and political priorities. His death created a leadership vacuum, triggering two subsequent party elections and frequent turnover in the premiership. Abe had served two terms, totaling 3,188 days, before stepping down in September 2020 due to health concerns. His former ally and current prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, now occupies the LDP’s top position, although the party’s once-dominant hold on Japanese politics has weakened noticeably.
The assassination also shed light on the LDP’s longstanding connections with the Unification Church, a South Korean religious organization often described as a cult. An internal review revealed that over a hundred lawmakers maintained ties with the church, a revelation that damaged the party’s public standing.
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Yamagami explained to the court that his mother had contributed heavily to the church, placing severe financial strain on the family, and that he directed his anger at Abe because the former prime minister had participated in an event linked to the group.
Founded in 1954, the Unification Church is known for mass wedding ceremonies and relies heavily on Japanese adherents for funding. Internationally, Abe was also a significant figure, maintaining a strong personal rapport with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Abe was the first foreign leader to meet Trump following his 2016 election victory, and the two cultivated a friendship through multiple rounds of golf in Japan and the United States. Takaichi has frequently referenced Abe’s close U.S. relationship as a guide in her own diplomatic initiatives.