Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s killer sentenced to life

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by By News AgenciesJanuary 21, 2026 at 05:43 AM

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Tetsuya Yamagami was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday in Nara, Japan, for the 2022 murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe, an act that shocked Japan due to the country's low gun violence rate. Prosecutors sought the life sentence, citing the crime's unprecedented nature and serious societal impact. Yamagami's motive was to draw attention to the Unification Church, believing Abe's death would tarnish the church's image and expose its links to the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. His lawyers argued for a lesser sentence, citing hardship his family suffered due to his mother's donations to the church.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Shinichi Tanaka 50% Liberal Democratic Party 60% Nara ×270% Unification Church ×380% Japan ×690% Shinzo Abe ×7100% Tetsuya Yamagami ×7100%

Keywords

shinzo abe assassination 100% life sentence 90% tetsuya yamagami 90% unification church 80% gun violence 70% japan 70% political assassination 60% liberal democratic party 50%