The July 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent political shockwaves through Japan and ignited scrutiny of the unification Church. Abe, JapanS longest-serving prime minister, was shot while campaigning in Nara Prefecture, and the accused gunman, Tetsuya Yamagami, reportedly targeted Abe due to the politician’s ties to the controversial religious association. Investigations revealed Yamagami harbored resentment over ample donations his mother made to the Unification Church, wich left his family financially ruined, ultimately leading to a court order for the group’s dissolution in March 2023.
The man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022 harbored a deep resentment towards the Unification Church, believing the religious organization financially ruined his family. The shooting, which occurred during a campaign rally in Nara Prefecture, sent shockwaves through Japan and the international community.
According to investigators, Tetsuya Yamagami constructed a homemade firearm and used it to shoot Abe, who was delivering a speech. The former prime minister was transported to a hospital but showed no signs of life upon arrival, and was later pronounced dead.
Yamagami reportedly blamed the Unification Church for persuading his mother to donate approximately 100 million yen (roughly $17.2 million USD) to the organization, leaving the family in financial distress. He accused Abe of promoting the group, which has faced widespread criticism for its fundraising practices.
Founded in South Korea in 1954 by Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the Unification Church is known for its mass wedding ceremonies and relies heavily on donations from its Japanese followers. The organization has been the subject of hundreds of lawsuits in Japan from families alleging manipulation and financial exploitation, with members reportedly pressured into making large donations that depleted their savings.
In March 2023, a Japanese court ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church’s Japanese branch following a request from the government, prompted by investigations into Abe’s assassination.
Abe served as Japan’s longest-serving prime minister since World War II, holding office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 until his resignation in September 2020, citing health concerns.
