There is little question that the man who killed Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 will be convicted when the court delivers its verdict – Tetsuya Yamagami himself pleaded guilty to the crime at the trial's opening last year.
The 45-year-old is set to be sentenced on Wednesday, but the appropriate punishment remains a topic of division among the public in Japan. While many see Yamagami as a cold-blooded murderer, others sympathize with his troubled upbringing.
Prosecutors have demanded life in prison for the grave act of shooting Abe dead. The former PM was a significant figure in public life in Japan, where gun violence is rare, leaving the nation shocked by his assassination.
Yamagami's defense team seeks leniency, claiming he was a victim of religious abuse. His mother's allegiance to the Unification Church bankrupted their family, and Yamagami developed animosity towards Abe after discovering ties the ex-leader had to the controversial church.
Abe's death, which occurred while he was delivering a speech, prompted investigations into the Unification Church's practices, including soliciting ruinous donations from its followers. This incident revealed connections between the church and members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, leading to several political resignations.
Journalist Eito Suzuki, who covered most of Yamagami's court proceedings, noted that Yamagami and his family displayed overwhelming despair throughout the trial.
Yamagami solemnly admitted, Everything is true. There is no doubt that I did this, as he described how he constructed a homemade gun and shot Abe during a political campaign event on July 8, 2022.
The murder of Japan's most recognizable public figure shocked the world. While prosecutors call for a sentence of life imprisonment, Yamagami's lawyers argue that he deserves a maximum of 20 years based on his experiences of religious abuse.
In an emotional statement to the court, Akie Abe shared her unending sorrow over the loss of her husband, expressing, I just wanted him to stay alive.
Founded in South Korea, the Unification Church gained a following in Japan during the 1960s, forging connections with politicians and drawing scrutiny for its aggressive fundraising tactics. Yamagami's defense centered on the claim that his family's financial ruin and social issues stem from his mother's involvement with the sect, prompting a gut-wrenching testimony from his sister about their childhood hardships.
Despite the sympathetic narratives surrounding Yamagami, legal experts question whether personal tragedies can mitigate the seriousness of his crime. As the court prepares to deliver its sentence, the discourse surrounding his case illustrates broader societal issues related to mental health, familial neglect, and the dark side of religious organizations in Japan.
