Shinzo Abe Shooting Trial: Defendant Explains Motive, Akie Abe Attends Hearing

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, accused of killing former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022, continued this week at the Nara District Court with detailed testimony about the defendant’s motives and a courtroom appearance by Abe’s widow, Akie. Yamagami, 45, told judges and lay judges that he targeted Abe because he believed the former leader sat “at the center” of ties between politics and the Unification Church, saying his “hatred and hostility” developed gradually and that attacking any other politician would have carried “weak significance.” Akie Abe attended Wednesday’s session through a system for victims’ families, listening silently as Yamagami bowed toward her before questioning resumed on why he shifted his focus from church leaders to Abe. The high-profile proceedings will continue as the court weighs Yamagami’s intent and the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. Episode Notes: ‘Yamagami Viewed Abe as Center of Politics-Church Relations’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/03/yamagami-viewed-abe-as-center-of-politics-church-relations/ ‘Slain Ex-PM Abe’s Wife Attends Attacker’s Trial for 1st Time’: https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/12/04/slain-ex-pm-abes-wife-attends-attackers-trial-for-1st-time/