Tetsuya Yamagami pleaded guilty to the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, committed in 2022. His trial will continue, and the verdict is expected in January 2026.

Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, pleaded guilty at the opening of his trial, three years after the attack on July 8, 2022. Yamagami, 45 years old, used a homemade weapon to shoot Abe during an election rally. He is charged with premeditated murder and violating gun control laws. Although he admitted to the act, his lawyer intends to contest some of the charges. If found guilty, he faces a severe penalty, including the possibility of the death penalty, although this is rarely applied in Japan.

Abe's assassination generated a strong reaction in Japan, where gun crimes are extremely rare, and led to an examination of the ties between Abe and the Unification Church, an organization accused of financial pressures on its followers. Yamagami harbored resentment towards this organization, which he blamed for the destruction of his family. The investigation revealed connections between the Unification Church and politicians from the Liberal Democratic Party, leading to the resignation of four ministers.

The tragedy also highlighted security deficiencies, and following the incident, gun legislation was tightened, prohibiting the dissemination of information about weapon manufacturing on social media. The verdict in Yamagami's case is expected in January 2026.