It became known about the struggle of hundreds of Japanese for a place in the trial of Abe's killer

In Japan, hundreds of people came to the central park of the city of Nara on Wednesday morning to try to get to the trial of the murderer of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. This was reported on January 21 by a RIA Novosti correspondent.

It is noted that due to the large number of people willing to attend the trial, seats will be allocated by lottery. To participate, those who wished had to receive a special paper bracelet with a number, which then allowed the system to select 32 random holders of seats in the courtroom. The bracelets were distributed within an hour — from 8.30 to 9.30 local time (2.30-3.30 Moscow time).

Many of those who came to Nara Park said that they would be attending the trial for the first time and that they had made the decision because of the volume of the case. For example, an elderly couple from neighboring Kyoto Prefecture said that they had come to Naru on purpose. A woman named Makiko noted that she considers a prison term of 20 years to be the most just punishment for the accused, given the circumstances that influenced his actions.

"I think it would be right for him (the accused. — Ed.) was able to improve and still have time to return to society," she said.

These views coincide with the position of the defendant's defense, which also insists on a 20-year sentence, citing Yamaga's difficult childhood. At the same time, the prosecution believes that the crime was committed by a man who, at the age of forty, could reason sensibly, and does not find logic in the motives for the murder related to hatred of a religious organization. Because of this, the prosecution demands a life sentence.

Tetsui Yamagami pleaded guilty. He is charged with murder and violating the law on weapons.

On July 8, 2022, Yamagami shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe twice from behind with a homemade rifle. The Japanese ex-prime minister died of blood loss. The killer cited the alleged connection between Abe and the religious sect "Unification Church" as the reason for the crime. Yamagami's mother transferred large sums of money to the sect in the form of donations, which led to the collapse of the family.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Abe Akie's widow on May 30, 2025. On May 30, the video hit the front pages of the Japanese newspapers Asahi and Yomiuri.

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