The convict, Tetsuya Yamagami, was arrested at the scene in July 2022 after fatally shooting Abe during a daytime campaign speech in the city of Nara, western Japan. Yamagami used a homemade firearm to carry out the attack. At the time of his death, Abe was 67 years old and Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.

During the trial at the Nara District Court, judges confirmed that Yamagami was solely responsible for the killing. The courtroom fell silent as attention turned to the severity of the sentence to be imposed.

Reading the verdict, presiding judge Shinichi Tanaka described the shooting as “an extremely serious and reprehensible act,” stressing that the use of a firearm in a public place constituted a grave crime with far-reaching consequences.

Prosecutors had called for life imprisonment, arguing that the assassination of a national leader in such circumstances was an unprecedented crime in Japan’s post-war history.

Defense lawyers, however, requested a reduced sentence of no more than 20 years, citing family hardships linked to the Unification Church. They argued that Yamagami’s actions were driven by resentment after his family allegedly fell into poverty due to large donations made by his mother to the religious group.

Although Abe was no longer serving as prime minister at the time of his death, he remained a powerful and influential figure within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). His assassination created a significant political vacuum within the party.

Shinzo Abe served two separate terms as prime minister before stepping down in September 2020, citing health reasons. His former protégé, Sanae Takaichi, currently leads Japan and the LDP, though the party’s political strength has reportedly weakened since Abe’s death.

Japanese media reported that Yamagami told the court he harbored deep resentment toward the Unification Church and blamed Abe after the former leader sent a video message to an event organized by a group linked to the church.

The verdict closes one of the most high-profile criminal cases in modern Japanese history, marking a somber chapter for a country known for its strict gun control and low violent crime rates.