-On 8 July 2022, Shinzo Abe, a former prime minister of Japan and a serving member of the House of Representatives, was assassinated while speaking at a political event outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station in the city of Nara, Nara Prefecture, Japan.  At approximately 11:30 a.m. JST (UTC+9), while delivering a campaign speech for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate, Late Former Prime Minister shot from behind at close range by a homemade firearm.  A suspect, Tetsuya Yamagami, was apprehended at the scene. Late Former Prime Minister transported by medical helicopter to Nara Medical University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:03 p.m., five and a half hours after the shooting.

Leaders from many countries praised Abe's accomplishments while expressing shock and sadness at his death. His assassination was the first of a former Japanese prime minister since Saito Makoto and Takahashi Korekiyo during the February 26 Incident in 1936, as well as the first of a former G7 leader since Italy's Aldo Moro in 1978.

Background

Late Former Prime Minister initially scheduled to deliver a speech in Nagano Prefecture on 8 July 2022 in support of Sanshiro Matsuyama, a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate for the prefecture in the upcoming elections to the House of Councillors to be held on 10 July.  The event was abruptly cancelled on 7 July,  following allegations of misconduct and corruption related to Matsuyama, and was replaced by a similar event in Nara Prefecture in which Late Former Prime Minister to deliver a speech in support of Kei Sato, an LDP member of the House of Councillors running for re-election in the prefecture.  The LDP division in Nara Prefecture stated this schedule was not generally known to the public, but NHK reported that this event had been widely advertised on Twitter and by sound truck.

On 8 July 2022, at around 11:10 a.m., Sato began speaking at a road junction near the north exit of Yamato-Saidaiji Station in Nara. Abe arrived nine minutes later, and began his speech at around 11:29 a.m.. Members of the public listened from surrounding sidewalks.

Assassination

While Late Former Prime Minister delivering his speech outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station, the alleged perpetrator was able to approach within several meters, despite the presence of security. At around 11:30 a.m., Late Former Prime Minister shot twice from behind with a homemade gun that resembled a sawed-off, double-barreled shotgun, and collapsed. The pellet projectiles struck Abe's heart.  [excessive citations] Abe's security detained the suspect, who did not resist.

Late Former Prime Minister initially conscious and communicative after being shot. Shortly thereafter, he was transported to a local hospital by emergency helicopter with a wound to the right side of his neck and internal bleeding under his left chest. He was reported to have no vital signs when he arrived at Nara Medical University Hospital in Kashihara, likely due to cardiopulmonary arrest prior to his arrival.  At 2:45 p.m., a press conference was held by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who stated that Late Former Prime Minister in critical condition and that "doctors [were] doing everything they [could]".

Late Former Prime Minister pronounced dead at the hospital at 5:03 p.m., around five and a half hours after being shot. He was 67. Following his death, Hidetada Fukushima, a doctor at the hospital, stated that the cause of Abe's death was blood loss, despite four hours of blood transfusions that saw the administration of 100 units of blood. Late Former Prime Minister the first former Japanese prime minister to have been assassinated since Saito Makoto and Takahashi Korekiyo, who were killed during the February 26 Incident in 1936, the first Japanese legislator to be assassinated since Koki Ishii was killed by a member of a right-wing group in 2002, and the first Japanese politician to be assassinated during an electoral campaign since Iccho Itoh, then-mayor of Nagasaki, who was shot dead during his mayoral race in April 2007.

Aftermath, a crisis-management center was established at the prime minister's office.[34] Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who was campaigning in Sagae, Yamagata Prefecture as of noon, canceled his remaining schedule, then returned to Prime Minister's Residence in Tokyo by 2:29 p.m..  According to Hirokazu Matsuno, Chief Cabinet Secretary, all other members of Kishida's cabinet were recalled to Tokyo, except Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Affairs Minister, who was in Indonesia for the 2022 G20 Bali summit.

NHK General TV, and four out of five major Japanese commercial TV networks, cancelled or postponed all scheduled programs to broadcast live news programs for the rest of the day.  The anime Teppen—!!! had its second episode cancelled due to an assassination plot.

Most political leaders cancelled all campaign events on 8 July after the attack. Campaigning resumed the day after, on 9 July, with major party leaders vowing to not allow the democratic process to be disrupted.

Suspected Tetsuya Yamagami (Japanese), a 41-year-old man living in Nara, was arrested by Nara Prefectural Police at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder, and was transferred to the Nara Nishi Police Station.  He was described as being calm and having made no attempts to flee. Yamagami had no prior criminal history.

Yamagami was born in Mie Prefecture. He was described as quiet and reserved in high school.  Yamagami wrote in his high-school graduation yearbook that he "didn't have a clue" what he wanted to do in the future.[54] He joined the Maritime Self-Defense Force in August 2002, where he was dispatched to Kure Naval Base and assigned to the JS Matsuyuki. Yamagami separated from the JMSDF in August 2005 as a quartermaster with the rank of leading seaman.  During his tenure in the JMSDF, he had firearms training once every year.

Yamagami was unemployed at the time of his arrest. In autumn 2020, Yamagami had started working as a forklift operator in Kyoto Prefecture for a manufacturer that operated in the Kansai region. There he was described as quiet before quitting in May 2022 after claiming that he was "feeling unwell".

After his arrest, Yamagami told investigators that he was dissatisfied with Abe and intended to kill him. Yamagami also claimed that he held a grudge against a "particular religious group" and shot Abe because he believed that "the religious group and Abe were connected". Yamagami said he resented the fact that his mother was brainwashed by a religious group and went bankrupt. He also stated that he killed Abe because he believed he was the one who spread the religion to Japan. The Nara Prefectural Police refused to elaborate on the religious group. Yamagami claimed that he "didn't have a grudge against Abe's political beliefs". Yamagami told police that he kept track of Abe's schedule during his visit to Nara on Abe's website. Yamagami also claimed that he was planning an attack for "several months" and built a gun to kill Abe.  

Nara Prefectural Police discovered several possible explosive devices and handmade guns similar to the one used to shoot Abe during a search of Yamagami's home following his arrest. They were later seized as evidence and taken by bomb disposal officers after nearby residents were evacuated. Websites about bomb-making and weapons manufacturing were discovered in Yamagami's browsing history.

Incumbent Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida called the assassination an "unforgivable act" and an "act of cowardly barbarism". Noting that Late Former Prime Minister shot while delivering a campaign speech for House of Councillors member Kei Sato, Kishida also denounced the assassination as an attack on Japan's democracy and vowed to defend a "free and fair election at all costs".

Before Abe's death was announced, Governor of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, stated that "no matter the reason, such a heinous act is absolutely unforgivable. It is an affront against democracy." Kazuo Shii, chairman of the Japanese Communist Party, called the assassination "barbaric" and called it an attack on free speech and an act of terrorism in a post to Twitter.

Around the World   In response to the shooting and Abe's subsequent death, representatives of numerous countries, including present and former world leaders, expressed their condolences.

•   Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, said that under Abe's leadership, Japan had emerged as "one of Australia's most like-minded partners in Asia – a legacy that endures today". Albanese also mentioned Abe's foreign policy contributions, adding that the "Quad and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership are in many ways the results of his diplomatic leadership". Albanese said that Abe's legacy was "one of global impact, and a profound and positive one for Australia".

•   Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, condemned the attack in a statement, and said that in Abe she saw "a statesman, someone who helped usher through complex negotiations like the CPTPP", but also "someone who was kind", citing his condolences for her cat's death as an example.

•   President of the United States Joe Biden said that he was "stunned, outraged and deeply saddened" by the event. Biden remarked that Abe, "above all, cared deeply about the Japanese people and dedicated his life to their service. Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy ... While there are many details that we do not yet know, we know that violent attacks are never acceptable and that gun violence always leaves a deep scar on the communities that are affected by it. The United States stands with Japan in this moment of grief. I send my deepest condolences to his family."  Biden later ordered flags of the United States to be flown at half-staff until July 10, 2022.

•   Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, announced that India would observe a day of national mourning on July 9. In accordance, the flag of India will be flown at half-mast. He said in a tweet, "I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends", and said that Late Former Prime Minister a trusted friend of India.

•   Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, offered her condolences to incumbent Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida. A day of state mourning was declared in Bangladesh for 9 July. In accordance, the flag of Bangladesh will be flown at half-mast.