Tue Oct 28 09:58:30 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Abe Assassin Admits to Murder as Trial Begins in Japan
Tokyo, Japan – Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, pleaded guilty to murder and violations of arms control laws as his trial began Tuesday in Nara. Yamagami, 45, confessed to all charges read out by prosecutors, admitting to using a homemade weapon to fatally shoot Abe during an election campaign speech.
“Everything is true,” Yamagami stated in court, according to AFP news agency.
The assassination, which shocked Japan and the world, was allegedly motivated by Yamagami’s resentment towards the Unification Church and its ties to Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Yamagami reportedly harbored a grudge against the church due to his mother’s significant donation of 100 million yen (approximately $663,218), which he claims financially ruined his family.
The Unification Church, long a subject of controversy, has faced increased scrutiny in Japan following the shooting, with accusations of bribery and financial exploitation. The incident also exposed the extensive connections between over 100 LDP lawmakers and the church, leading to a sharp decline in public support for the ruling party.
The trial’s opening coincided with a summit in Tokyo between two of Abe’s former allies: LDP leader and current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and visiting former U.S. President Donald Trump. Abe remains a prominent figure in public discourse and was even remembered during the meeting, with Takaichi gifting Trump a golf putter and other memorabilia previously owned by the late Prime Minister.
Seventeen more court hearings are scheduled throughout the year, leading up to a verdict expected on January 21st. The trial promises to shed further light on the motivations behind the assassination and its lasting impact on Japanese politics and society.
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