Daijiworld Media Network – Tokyo

Tokyo, Oct 28: Nearly three years after the shocking assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the trial of the accused, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, is set to begin on Tuesday in Nara. The incident, which stunned Japan a nation known for its low levels of gun crime and political violence will finally be put under judicial scrutiny.

Yamagami was arrested on the spot in July 2022 after allegedly firing at Abe with a homemade gun while the former premier was delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara. Local reports suggested Yamagami held a personal grudge against Abe for his perceived support of the Unification Church, a religious group he blamed for his family’s financial ruin after his mother donated nearly 100 million yen (approx. Rs 5.5 crore) to it.

Founded in South Korea in 1954, the Unification Church is known for its mass wedding ceremonies and counts thousands of Japanese followers as key financial supporters.

According to Nara District Court officials, Yamagami is expected to admit to the murder but will contest charges related to Japan’s Firearms and Swords Control Act and the Ordnance Manufacturing Act. The pretrial proceedings have already been completed.

The killing sparked nationwide outrage and revealed deep ties between the Unification Church and Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Over a hundred LDP lawmakers were found to have links with the organization, causing a sharp dip in public confidence in the government.

The first court session will commence at 2 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) and will be followed by 17 more hearings through the end of the year. The final verdict is expected on January 21, 2026.

The trial coincides with a high-profile summit in Tokyo between Japan’s current Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi—once a close ally of Abe—and visiting US President Donald Trump.