Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Yamagami Details Motive in Day 2 of Testimony, Citing Unification Church and Fears Over Abe's Association

He says ties to politicians would normalize a group he blames for his family's ruin.

Overview

  • At the Nara District Court on Nov. 25, the defendant continued answering questions, outlining grievances against the Unification Church and addressing the power of the gun used.
  • He testified that he feared Shinzo Abe’s association with the church would validate it, describing feelings of despair and a sense of crisis.
  • He said his mother made large donations to the church, and that refunds began as he returned home, with funds steered toward his sister’s university costs.
  • He recounted a 2005 suicide attempt, his subsequent departure from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and his return to live at home.
  • He said his brother, who opposed the faith, died by suicide in 2015, an event that deepened his anger toward the church.