Japanese PM-assassin hearing puts fraudulent religious groups under scrutiny

Tetsuya Yamagami, the suspect accused of killing former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a public event in 2022, issued his first apology to Abe’s family. Speaking at the 14th hearing of his trial at the Nara District Court on December 4, he expressed remorse for causing the former leader’s relatives “pain for the past three and a half years” due to his actions. The assassination, one of the most shocking incidents in modern Japanese history, has since intensified national debate concerning the influence of religious organizations.

During the proceedings, Yamagami also reiterated that his decision was influenced by his resentment toward the Unification Church, stating he could not stand the idea of the group gaining greater visibility through its association with Abe.

Earlier, at a previous hearing, he told the court that he believed Abe was “at the center of the Unification Church’s political involvement,” and that his “dislike and hostility” toward the former prime minister continued to intensify, as reported by Tokyo Weekender.

Abe’s links to the organization have been documented, including a video message he sent to an event held by a group affiliated with the church, in which he praised leader Han Hak Ja and expressed respect for her.

According to defense arguments presented on October 28, the 45-year-old defendant’s anger escalated because his mother donated around 100 million yen to the church after becoming a member, leaving the family financially devastated and causing what the defense described as increasingly “vengeful” feelings.

At one point during questioning, a judge asked Yamagami whether he believed he had “served his purpose” by killing Abe. After pausing briefly, he responded, “I can’t answer that.”

The shooting prompted public scrutiny of ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the Unification Church, with reports surfacing that some lawmakers received election support from church-linked groups. In response, authorities launched a formal investigation into the religious organization, which eventually led the Tokyo District Court to order its dissolution. Lawmakers also passed new regulations aimed at curbing manipulative fundraising practices by religious groups.

The incident triggered broader societal reflection as well. After Yamagami’s confession that he acted due to Abe’s association with a specific religious group, the phrase “Shukyo Nisei” — literally “religion second generation” — began trending online. The term describes children raised by parents who belong to religious organizations.

While the Unification Church is currently the focus, individuals from other faith communities have voiced their frustration at being thrust into the public eye.

“I feel furious that Yamagami has put a spotlight on us in the worst possible way,” one person wrote on social media, describing their upbringing in the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Legal representatives for alleged victims say Unification Church followers lost an estimated 5.4 billion yen (around $39 million) over the last five years. However, Tomihiro Tanaka, the organization’s Japan chairman, has denied allegations of coercion related to financial contributions.

Religion journalist Eito Suzuki described the group as “a religious group which started in South Korea, entered Japan in the 1960s and has a very sophisticated money-making operation,” adding that while it has prompted “societal problems with its spiritual-pressure sales and mass weddings,” its anti-communist stance has made it “close to Japan’s conservative politicians.”

Tanaka claims the organization has reformed, though lawyers representing alleged victims say they continue to receive large numbers of complaints.

By Nazrin Sadigova