Trial for Ex-PM Shinzo Abe's Assassination Begins Amid Political Ties Controversy

The high-profile trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, started on Tuesday, marking a significant moment in Japan's history of rare political violence. The assassination, which took place during an election campaign in Nara, shocked the nation and led to widespread controversy.

During the attack, Yamagami allegedly used a homemade firearm, an act that has resulted in grave charges against him, including murder and violation of the Firearms and Swords Control Act. The motive behind the attack was reportedly linked to Abe's promotion of the Unification Church, a group that Yamagami held responsible for his family's financial ruin.

This trial also casts a spotlight on political ties with the religious organization, revealing that over a hundred lawmakers from Abe's Liberal Democratic Party had connections to the Church, affecting the ruling party's public image. As the trial unfolds, Japan awaits its potential implications for January's verdict.