A Japanese court on Wednesday sentenced Tetsuya Yamagami to life in prison for killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
The ruling came from the Nara District Court. It ends a major trial that revealed serious social problems and caused political changes in Japan.
Presiding Judge Shinichi Tanaka approved the maximum sentence requested by prosecutors. He described the shooting as:
“despicable and extremely malicious.”
The court said Yamagami planned the attack carefully. This, they ruled, outweighed the defense’s request for mercy.
Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to murder of Shinzo Abe and gun crimes in October 2025. His lawyers argued that he suffered from “religious abuse.”
They said his family lost money after his mother donated 100 million yen to the Unification Church.
The judge acknowledged Yamagami’s difficult upbringing. However, the court said this did not justify killing Abe. The former leader was shot during a campaign rally in Nara.
The killing changed Japanese politics. Investigations later revealed close ties between the Unification Church and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Several cabinet members resigned.
In 2025, a court removed the church’s legal status. Judges said the group used harmful financial practices.
After the killing, Japan passed a new law. It is called the Act on the Prevention of Unjust Solicitation of Donations by Corporations. The law bans:
“fear-based” fundraising
“spiritual sales” methods.
It also allows families to cancel donations made under pressure.
The church has challenged the law. Still, courts ruled that consumer protection comes before religious status. By late 2025, more than 9,000 people had contacted government support centers.
Public opinion remains divided. Many see Yamagami as a criminal. Others signed petitions asking for mercy. He stayed silent as the judge read the sentence. His lawyers may appeal.
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