Shinzo Abe’s killer sentenced to life in prison over shooting of Japanese former PM

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Justin McCurry in TokyoJanuary 21, 2026 at 06:21 AM

AI Summary

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Tetsuya Yamagami was sentenced to life in prison in Japan for the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was shot during a campaign speech in Nara, shocking the nation due to Japan's low gun crime rate. Yamagami pleaded guilty, citing revenge against Abe for his ties to the Unification Church, which Yamagami blamed for his family's financial ruin due to his mother's large donations. The prosecution sought a life sentence, acknowledging the crime's unprecedented nature, while the defense argued for a shorter term. The investigation into Abe's death revealed widespread connections between Japanese politicians and the controversial religious group.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Sun Myung Moon 30% South Korea 40% Liberal Democratic party (LDP) 50% Nara 50% Unification Church ×270% Japan ×480% Tetsuya Yamagami ×690% Shinzo Abe ×7100%

Keywords

shinzo abe assassination 100% unification church 90% tetsuya yamagami 90% life sentence 80% japan 80% religious group 70% assassination motive 70% political violence 60% political ties 60% gun crime 50%

Sentiment Analysis

Negative

Score: -0.30

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

Japan

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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shinzo abe assassination unification church tetsuya yamagami life sentence japan religious group assassination motive political violence political ties gun crime

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