On 8 July 2022, Tetsuya Yamagami appeared at the northern exit of Yamato-Saidaiji Station, Nara at 11:30 am, where Shinzo Abe was delivering a campaign speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate in the upcoming Upper House election. Abe was positioned inside a traffic island of the crossroad, facing away from the train station. Yamagami was situated behind Abe, with a street separating them. Subsequently, Yamagami began to slowly approach Abe, going unnoticed by Abe's bodyguards. Yamagami then discharged a homemade shotgun, seemingly not hitting anyone in the vicinity. Upon hearing the noise, Abe turned his head to look behind him. Yamagami took a few steps forward and fired a second round. Abe immediately displayed signs of severe pain and collapsed to the ground. Abe's bodyguards rushed towards Yamagami and restrained him on the ground.

Yamagami told investigators that his motive had been personal rather than political.[55][56][57][58] After his mother joined the Unification Church around 1991 to 1998,[a][26] she had given the church about 100 million yen (US$720,000), a parcel of land she had inherited from her father, and the house where she lived with her three children; she subsequently declared bankruptcy in 2002. She had continued donating to the church following the bankruptcy. Yamagami's uncle recalled being contacted by Yamagami and his siblings to complain that they had no food at home, electric bills and house rent were often overdue, prompting the uncle to deliver meals and money for living expenses.

Yamagami blamed the Unification Church for his family's financial problems and held a grudge against the group. Researching the church's connections to Abe in the months before the attack, he believed the former prime minister and his maternal grandfather, former prime minister Nobusuke Kishi, spread the church's influence in Japan.

Yamagami is described by some commentators who wrote for The Economist and The Atlantic as one of the most effective political assassins in recent history. The assassination brought the many social issues with the Unification Church under the spotlight again, as well as tumbled the approval of the ruling party. Under the public pressure, the responsible ministry decided to file a dissolution order against the UC with the Tokyo District Court on 13 October 2023, after nearly a year of investigation of wrongdoings.

[–] Paraponera_clavata@lemmy.world 4 points 4 months ago (3 children)

Why was he imperialist?

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 24 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I wouldn't call him imperialist, but he repeatedly denied WW2 Japanese war crimes (in particular the Nanking massacre and the use of Korean 'comfort women'). This is the rough equivalent of a German Chancellor denying the Holocaust.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 7 points 4 months ago

I think that's par for the course for Japanese politicians. A lot of them seem to categorically deny all the atrocities.

[–] Paraponera_clavata@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't call him imperialist either. I think he was a pretty decent leader for Japan. He wasn't murdered for his politics, but because of his religious affiliation.

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It wasn't just religious affiliation. He, and others in the LDP, protected the Moonies in return for their political support. It was very much a political issue (separation of church and state).

[–] Paraponera_clavata@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Ah, so he protected them from being prosecuted or something?

My understanding is the murder's family was ruined by donating to the church. The murderer wrote.that.he planned to kill the church leader,.but changed.his mine cause Abe was more famous and would get more attention. I don't think there is evidence that the murderers motivations were political, but I could be wrong. Happen to have a source?

[–] emergencyfood@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 months ago

Ah, so he protected them from being prosecuted or something?

More or less. Not he alone, but many senior LDP leaders with him at the helm.

The murderer wrote.that.he planned to kill the church leader,.but changed.his mine cause Abe was more famous and would get more attention.

Correct.

I don't think there is evidence that the murderers motivations were political, but I could be wrong.

As I understand, he wanted to draw attention to the Moonies while 'punishing' someone he held responsible for his family's condition.

[–] Gigagoblin@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 4 months ago (2 children)

do you got your own spoon at least?

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 6 points 4 months ago

I think for the discussion it'd be a lot better to explain why. Makes things easier for all

[–] Paraponera_clavata@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

I don't know what this means.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

The guy that killed Shinzo Abe.