More than three years after the assassination of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, the man responsible has been sentenced to life in prison in a case that continues to reshape Japan’s political landscape and public debate.
Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, received the sentence on Wednesday at a court in Nara for the 2022 killing that stunned a nation known for its strict gun laws and low levels of violent crime. While life sentences in Japan allow for the possibility of parole, many inmates never leave prison.
Prosecutors described the killing as an unprecedented act in post-war Japan, arguing that its impact went far beyond the loss of a former leader. They said the attack exposed deep links between politics and the controversial Unification Church, triggering public anger and a loss of trust in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
According to prosecutors, Yamagami targeted Abe to draw attention to the Unification Church, which he blamed for financial ruin suffered by his family after his mother donated large sums to the group. Abe had appeared in a video message for an event linked to a church-affiliated organization, a connection Yamagami said fueled his resentment.
The case sparked an internal investigation that revealed more than 100 lawmakers had ties to the church, contributing to voter backlash against the LDP, which has governed Japan for most of the post-war era.
The Unification Church, founded in South Korea in 1954 and known globally for its mass weddings, has long relied on Japanese followers as a major source of funding.
Abe, who served a total of 3,188 days as prime minister, was a polarizing figure at home but highly influential abroad, particularly through his close relationship with former US President Donald Trump. His death marked a turning point for the LDP, which has since lost its parliamentary majorities.
As public interest in the trial remained high, crowds lined up for tickets to attend the sentencing, underscoring how Abe’s assassination continues to reverberate through Japan’s politics, society, and institutions.
