Abe Assassin Tetsuya Yamagami Pleads Guilty to Murder in First Court Appearance

Guilty Plea Entered in High-Profile Abe Assassination Trial

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, formally pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and violating the Firearm and Sword Control Law during his first public trial hearing. The proceedings commenced at the Nara District Court on October 28, 2025, marking the beginning of the legal process for one of the most shocking political crimes in modern Japanese history.

Yamagami’s appearance in court, the first since the immediate aftermath of the assassination, confirms the prosecution’s core case regarding the physical act of the crime. While a guilty plea often streamlines the legal process, the trial is expected to focus heavily on the defendant’s mental state at the time of the incident and the complex motive rooted in his deep-seated grievances against the Unification Church.

The Motive: Grievances Against the Unification Church

The assassination of Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022, during a campaign rally in Nara, sent shockwaves globally, not only due to the victim’s prominence but also because of the unusual and specific motive revealed during the investigation.

Yamagami’s primary target was not Abe himself, but the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, widely known as the Unification Church. Investigators determined that Yamagami held a profound resentment toward the religious group, which he blamed for financially ruining his family.

Key Aspects of Yamagami’s Motivation:

• Family Bankruptcy: Yamagami’s mother reportedly donated vast sums of money to the Unification Church, leading to the family’s financial collapse and severe hardship for Yamagami and his siblings.
• Perceived Connection: Yamagami targeted Abe due to the former Prime Minister’s perceived close ties and support for the Unification Church, which he believed legitimized the organization and enabled its activities.
• Homemade Weapon: The defendant used a powerful, improvised firearm, highlighting the premeditation and planning involved in the attack.

Yamagami reportedly told investigators that he had initially intended to target the head of the Unification Church but shifted his focus to Abe, believing the former leader was the most influential figure connected to the group in Japan.

Legal Implications of the Guilty Plea

In the Japanese legal system, a guilty plea to the murder charge means the defense is not contesting the facts of the crime itself. The trial will now pivot to determining the appropriate sentence, which, given the high-profile nature and severity of the crime, is expected to be the death penalty, though the defense may argue for life imprisonment based on mitigating factors.

Focus of the Court Proceedings:

1. Mental State Assessment: A key element of the defense strategy is likely to involve arguments regarding Yamagami’s psychological condition and criminal responsibility at the time of the shooting. Extensive psychiatric evaluations were conducted during the pre-trial detention period.
2. Motive Presentation: The court will hear detailed testimony regarding Yamagami’s relationship with the Unification Church and the extent of his family’s financial devastation, providing context for the extreme nature of the crime.
3. Sentencing Phase: The prosecution will argue for the maximum penalty, emphasizing the political nature of the assassination and the use of an illegal, homemade weapon.

The guilty plea simplifies the factual determination but shifts the entire focus onto the motive and the defendant’s state of mind, which are crucial for the final sentencing decision in a capital case of this magnitude.

The Broader Aftermath and Political Scrutiny

The assassination of Shinzo Abe triggered a massive political and social reckoning in Japan, far beyond the immediate security failures. The investigation into Yamagami’s motive exposed the deep, often hidden, connections between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church.

• LDP Investigation: Following public outcry, the LDP conducted an internal review, revealing that numerous high-ranking party members had ties, often undisclosed, to the Unification Church, including attending events or receiving campaign support.
• New Legislation: The government passed new legislation aimed at preventing religious organizations from soliciting excessive donations that cause financial distress to followers, directly addressing the core grievance that motivated Yamagami.
• Security Overhaul: The National Police Agency implemented a comprehensive overhaul of security protocols for public figures, acknowledging the significant failures that allowed the attacker to approach the former Prime Minister with an improvised weapon.

Key Takeaways from the First Hearing

• Guilty Plea: Defendant Tetsuya Yamagami pleaded guilty to the murder of Shinzo Abe and firearms violations at the Nara District Court.
• Trial Focus: The proceedings will now concentrate on Yamagami’s motive—his resentment toward the Unification Church—and his mental state, rather than the facts of the shooting.
• Context: The case continues to highlight the political fallout surrounding the relationship between Japanese politicians and the Unification Church, which led to significant legislative changes.

What’s Next

The trial is expected to proceed with detailed testimony from witnesses, including Yamagami’s family members and experts on the Unification Church, over the coming months. Given the complexity of the motive and the high stakes involved, the court is anticipated to take considerable time before delivering a final verdict and sentence, likely in 2026.