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Three years after Shinzo Abe's daylight assassination, Tetsuya Yamagami pleaded guilty in a Nara courtroom, saying, "Everything is true." Led in handcuffed with a rope at his waist, the 45-year-old spoke in a barely audible voice as his lawyers signaled they will contest some arms-control charges tied to his alleged handmade gun. Prosecutors said Yamagami targeted Abe to draw attention to the Unification Church, which he blamed for upending his life; hundreds queued for limited gallery seats. The case has fueled scrutiny of the sect and spurred tighter gun-control laws in 2024.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.