Akie Abe, wife of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, attended the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, accused of her husband's murder, for the first time on December 3 at Nara District Court. In the previous day's hearing, Yamagami detailed why he targeted Abe, stating that shooting other politicians would not have had the same meaning. Akie sat behind prosecutors using the victims' participation system but did not ask questions.
On December 3, the 13th hearing of the lay judge trial for Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, charged with the murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, took place at Nara District Court, where Akie Abe attended for the first time. Akie entered the courtroom at 1 p.m. wearing a black jacket adorned with a blue ribbon badge symbolizing efforts to rescue Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago. She sat behind prosecutors, utilizing the victims' participation system to observe the proceedings but did not pose any questions herself.
In the previous day's 12th hearing, Yamagami took the stand for the third time and spoke in detail for the first time about why he targeted Abe during a campaign speech in Nara City on July 8, 2022. He stated that he believed Abe "played a central role" in the relationship between the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, and Japanese politics. "[Shooting] any other politician would not have had as much meaning," Yamagami said. His grudge stemmed from his mother's donation of ¥100 million to the church, and he expressed disgust over a 2021 video message Abe sent to a church-related organization.
Yamagami described firing his handmade gun at a Unification Church building in Nara City before dawn on July 7, 2022, to vent his anger. That day, he traveled to Okayama City via Shinkansen with the gun, planning to shoot Abe during a speech there, but abandoned the attempt due to lack of opportunity. While heading home, he learned online of Abe's speech in Nara the next day, which he did not see as mere coincidence.
On the day of the attack, Yamagami arrived at Yamatosaidaiji Station around 10 a.m., assembled the gun in a restroom, and positioned himself behind Abe at the crowded venue for mobility. As guards focused on the street after the speech seemed to end, he approached and fired twice at Abe's upper body. "I thought, 'Now’s my chance,'" he said, adding he fired without thinking and did not believe it would hit others.
Lay judges questioned Yamagami for the first time, asking what led him to act in Nara. He replied that the guards' lapse, creating an opening, was the biggest factor. A National Police Agency report noted officers focused on the front crowd, leaving a blind spot behind. Yamagami felt the security appeared relaxed and not closely watching him.