Japan ex-PM Shinzo Abe dead after being shot: The who, why, what
Shinzo Abe was shot at during an election event. Photo: Getty Images, AP
Former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe has died after being shot at during an election event on Friday (July 8) in western Japan's Nara Prefecture. Shinzo Abe was rushed to a hospital in a critical condition early in the morning.
Timeline of what happened: Shinzo Abe was in Nara city of Nara Prefecture giving a speech in support of a candidate from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) for the upcoming elections for the Upper House. Soon after Abe started his speech, two rounds of gunfire were reportedly heard and the LDP leader collapsed.
Videos and pictures showed a bout of smoke emerging from behind Abe, accompanied by the sound of two gunshots cutting off the leader’s speech at the event.
Moment of the shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe was shot with a shotgun, now doctors are fighting for his life.
— Spriteer (@spriteer_774400) July 8, 2022
The suspect in the attack has already been detained, his name is Tetsuya Yamagami, the man's motives are being investigated. pic.twitter.com/DllB1QkGxE
High quality footage of the ex PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe being shot at from behind with an improvised double barreled shotgun .pic.twitter.com/5XFbUAjNUj
— Dr Moriarty (@aarjunx) July 8, 2022
Around 11:30 am (JST): According to Japan's NHK World News, two gunfire shots were heard during the event. The gunshots came from behind Abe. It seemed like the first shot aimed at Abe, missed him, but the second shot hit him in the chest from the back.
11:46 am (JST): Abe was rushed to the hospital via helicopter. Emergency personnel also surrounded the former Prime Minister, trying to give him CPR. NHK World News citing emergency officials said that Abe was showing no vital signs, or no signs of life when he collapsed.
#WATCH | Ex-Japanese PM Shinzo Abe shot during a speech in Nara city. Fire Dept says he's showing no vital signs, is in cardiopulmonary arrest & scheduled to be transferred by medevac to Nara Medical University. Shooter nabbed.
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2022
Aerial visuals from Nara City.
(Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/OSVxn48fyD
12:17 pm (JST): NHK World News reported that Abe’s security personnel tackled a suspect present in the crowd. The suspect was arrested and is currently in police custody.
12:58 (JST): Japan government spokesperson Matsuno Hirokazu condemned the act and called it “unacceptable”. He said that Prime Minister Kishida Fumio was informed about the situation.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio also addressed the media on the situation. He was in Yamagata Prefecture for election campaigning and rushed to Tokyo after hearing the news. He cancelled his campaign plans for the next few days and also asked cabinet members to return to Tokyo. Kishida called the act “barbaric and malicious”.
Shinzo Abe critical after being shot at, doctors trying hard to save him, says Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.#Japan #ShinzoAbe #News pic.twitter.com/DAKwszn19N
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) July 8, 2022
The Suspect: The suspect has been identified as 41-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami, a resident of Nara city. According to reports, videos and pictures circulating on social media and media outlets, the suspect used a homemade double barrel gun to carry out the attack. Eyewitnesses described the gun as a ‘large gun’. Police have also seized the weapon.
Yamagami is also reported to be a former member of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force or the Japanese Navy.
NHK World News citing an eyewitness present at the event reported that Abe fell down after the second gunshot was heard. The woman also told NHK World News that the suspect remained on the spot after shooting Abe and did not try to flee. He also reportedly laid down his gun before he was caught by security personnel.
One video, watermarked by NHK World News, shows the suspect (who is later tackled to the ground by security personnel) loitering at the gathering before the incident. The man is wearing a blue mask, wearing khaki-coloured cargo pants, a grey t-shirt and carrying a cross-body bag.
???⚠️ — Japanese Media NHK published the video taken by an NHK reporter just before the shooting of former Prime Minister Abe showing the shooter Tetsuya Yamagami (山上徹也) waiting for Mr. Abe's speech to begin. pic.twitter.com/XSUs89xkj0
— ??mai?ke?? (@maike809588) July 8, 2022
PM Kishida Fumio said that the motive behind the assassination attempt remains unknown, but called it an attack on democracy. The suspect has been charged with an attempt to murder.
Making sense of the attack: Such grave news coming out of Japan has shocked the world. Japan prides itself on being extremely safe in terms of crime and violence. Moreover, gun violence is rare in the country. Statista says that there were only 10 incidents of gun-related crimes reported in Japan in 2021. Usually, gun-related incidents do not cross 10 incidents in a population of 12.58 crore. Procuring a gun is also very difficult in the island nation, which is why it seems the suspect also used an improvised gun.
Saw this infographic a few days ago.. genuinely SHOOK about former PM Abe Shinzo getting shot in Japan ? A man in his 40s Yamagami Tetsuya has been arrested for the attempted assassination. Abe was showing no vital signs.. I hope they are able to revive him ? pic.twitter.com/IsLANy6jfr
— Dr Yumiko Kadota (she/her) (@mindbodymiko) July 8, 2022
Even then, political violence in Japan is also quite rare. Most of the incidents of attacks on public figures were reported during the 90s or were largely limited to the pre-World War era.
1990: A right-wing gunman shot and seriously injured the then-Nagasaki city Mayor Motoshima Hitoshi.
1992: A right-wing gunman shot the then-Vice President of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kanemaru Shin, during an event. Kanemaru escaped the attack uninjured.
1994: A former right-wing group member shot former PM Hosokawa Morihiro in a Tokyo hotel, but Hosokawa also escaped unharmed. The same year, Hosokawa had been forced to resign due to a scandal.
1995: The National Police Agency's then-Commissioner General Kunimatsu Takaji was seriously injured after being shot in front of his residence in Tokyo.
2007: Member of an organised crime group shot and killed another Nagasaki mayor, Ito Itcho.
Other than these incidents decades ago, Shinzo Abe’s assassination brings back memories of 1932, when the then-Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi was killed by naval officers, in a failed coup. Even then, the incident is from the time of WWII, not the modern era.
Shinzo Abe: Abe remained an influential leader in Japan, even after he stepped down as the Prime Minister. He served as Japan’s Prime Minister twice, earning the title of being the longest-serving PM in the post-war era. He stepped down as the PM in 2020 citing the recurrence of a chronic health condition. His resignation had come in the backdrop of criticism for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and his ultra-nationalist approach to the defence sector of the country.
Abe is also known for pushing to make Japan’s defence stronger and loosen the limits of the post-WWII pacifist constitution. His economic strategy was popularly known as ‘Abenomics’ around the world.
He belongs to a family with a decades-long political background. Abe’s grandfather, Kishi Nobusuke, served as the Prime Minister between 1957 and 1960 and his father was a Foreign Minister.
World leaders expressed shock and sadness at the news. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed anguish over the tragic passing of Abe and remembering his last meeting with the leader said, 'Little did I know that this would be our last meeting.'
I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 8, 2022
Deeply saddened by the demise of former PM of Japan, Shinzo Abe.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 8, 2022
His role in strengthening the strategic relationship between India & Japan was commendable. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the Indo-Pacific.
My condolences to his family & to the people of Japan.