Abe Assassin's Mother: "I Still Believe in the Unification Church"

Donated About 900 Million Won, Including Husband's Life Insurance
Apologizes to Bereaved Family as a Witness at Trial

The mother of Tetsuya Yamagami, the defendant who shot and killed former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with a homemade gun in July 2022, has revealed that she still maintains her faith in the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (formerly the Unification Church). On November 13, Yonhap News, citing Japanese media such as the Asahi Shimbun, reported that Yamagami's mother appeared as a witness at a trial held at the Nara District Court.

Tetsuya Yamagami (41), who shot and killed former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during an election campaign. Photo by Yonhap News

About three years ago, Yamagami approached former Prime Minister Abe during a House of Councillors (upper house) election campaign in Nara City, Nara Prefecture, in western Honshu, and shot him, resulting in his death. It is known that Yamagami harbored resentment over his mother's involvement with the Unification Church, and committed the crime out of a grudge against Abe due to the former prime minister’s favorable relationship with the church.

According to media reports, Yamagami's mother, who attended the trial that day, said in a nervous voice, "I should have apologized immediately, but I could not. I sincerely apologize for what my son did. I offer my heartfelt apologies to former Prime Minister Abe, Mrs. Akie Abe, and the bereaved family." She cited her husband's alcoholism as a reason for joining the Unification Church. She continued, "After attending the church's morning meetings during difficult times, I felt my irritation was soothed. However, when my husband and family learned that I was leaving the children at home to attend meetings and make donations, they began to oppose it, and it caused me distress."

Yamagami's mother became a member of the Unification Church when her son was in elementary school, and is known to have donated about 100 million yen (approximately 950 million won) to the church, including her late husband's life insurance payout. As a result, Yamagami reportedly gave up on attending university. Previously, during a police investigation, Yamagami stated, "Our lives were ruined by my mother's donations. I held a grudge against the church, and targeted former Prime Minister Abe because of his close ties with the Unification Church."