After three years of legal proceedings, Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has pleaded guilty. “Everything is true,” Yamagami declared in court, confessing to the act that sent shockwaves across Japan and the globe. The assassination took place in July 2022 while Abe was engaged in public speaking in Nara. Yamagami was detained at the site of the shooting, having used a homemade weapon. His subsequent legal journey included a lengthy mental health assessment, which concluded after nearly six months. Prosecutors confirmed he was mentally fit to face trial. This guilty plea brings a somber conclusion to the lengthy investigation and trial phase, addressing the nation’s profound loss.
