Assassin of former Japanese prime minister appeals life sentence

Wednesday 04 February 2026 - 10:30

By: Sahili Aya

Assassin of former Japanese prime minister appeals life sentence

The man convicted of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has filed an appeal against his life imprisonment sentence, according to local media reports. Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, submitted the appeal to the Osaka High Court, challenging the ruling handed down last month by the Nara District Court.

Yamagami admitted to shooting Abe with a homemade firearm during a campaign speech in Nara in July 2022. He was found guilty of murder and illegal possession and discharge of a firearm.

During the trial, Yamagami explained that he held a grudge against the Unification Church, which he believed Abe was linked to, citing his family’s financial losses due to his mother’s large donations. Defense lawyers argued for a sentence of no more than 20 years, describing Yamagami as a victim of religious abuse deserving a chance to rebuild his life.

The court, however, determined that the severity and danger of the attack warranted life imprisonment. The assassination also triggered a government investigation into the church’s fundraising practices, which ultimately led to its dissolution and legislation against coercive solicitation of donations.

Abe, who was 67 at the time of his death, was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, holding office from 2006–2007 and 2012–2020.