Tetsuya Yamagami, accused of fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, pleaded guilty to murder at his first trial hearing. Appearing at Nara District Court, the defendant did not deny his actions. The defense is seeking acquittal on firearms law violations.
On October 28, 2025, the first hearing of the trial for the murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took place at Nara District Court, where defendant Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, pleaded guilty to the murder charge. When asked to enter his plea, Yamagami stated in a quiet, raspy voice, “It is all true. There is no doubt that I have done all this,” and said he would defer legal matters to his lawyers. Another report quotes him as saying, “There’s no doubt that I did.”
The incident occurred in July 2022 in Nara City during Abe's election speech. Yamagami used a homemade gun and faces additional charges of violating the Firearms and Swords Control Law. The defense argues for acquittal on this charge, claiming the homemade weapon is not regulated under the law. The main point of contention is sentencing, with focus on the influence of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church.
The trial is set for 19 sessions, with a verdict expected on January 21, 2026. Public seating is limited to 32 spots, with tickets distributed from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., drawing early lines from attendees. The defendant's motives, linked to the church, are expected to be detailed in proceedings.