Nara 鈥� In late November, as Nara Park was teeming with tourists enjoying the autumn foliage and famed deer herd, the courthouse across the street was engulfed in a different kind of buzz.
The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, charged with fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022, had entered a crucial stage. For the first time since the trial began under tight security on Oct. 28, the defendant opened up about his troubled upbringing, his motivations for the attack and his thoughts on its aftermath.
He has pleaded guilty to murder as well as to lesser charges, including the production of gunpowder and property damage, testifying that a longtime grudge he held against the Unification Church led him to assassinate Abe, whom he regarded as an ally of the religious group.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.