A Japanese court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to 10 years in prison for attempting to assassinate former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2023. The ruling, handed down on Wednesday in Wakayama, found the defendant guilty of throwing a homemade bomb at Kishida during a political event.
The attack took place on April 15, 2023, while Kishida was preparing to deliver a speech in support of a Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) candidate. Though the explosion caused minor injuries to a police officer and a bystander, the then-prime minister was unharmed.
Judge Keiko Fukushima, delivering the verdict, emphasized the severity of the act, stating that targeting a sitting prime minister created widespread fear and anxiety across society. Prosecutors had sought a 15-year sentence, but the court ultimately ruled in favor of a decade-long imprisonment.
The convict, who also violated explosives and firearms laws as well as the Public Offices Election Law, denied having any intent to kill. He claimed his actions were meant to draw attention to his dissatisfaction with Japan’s electoral system rather than to cause harm.
The attempted assassination came just a year after Kishida’s predecessor, Shinzo Abe, was fatally shot during a campaign speech in Nara. The incident raised fresh concerns over security threats in a country known for its strict gun laws and low crime rates.
Japan remains one of the safest nations globally, but high-profile attacks on political figures have sparked discussions on security measures and political stability.