A Japanese court has sentenced 25-year-old Ryuji Kimura to 10 years in prison for attempting to assassinate former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with a homemade pipe bomb during a campaign event in 2023.
The Wakayama District Court found Kimura guilty of attempted murder, along with four other offenses, including violating laws related to explosives and weapons. The incident took place on April 15, 2023, at a small fishing port in Wakayama, where Kishida was delivering a speech.
Court Rejects Kimura’s Defense, Cites Threat to Democracy
During his trial, which began in early February, Kimura pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. He argued that his actions were meant to protest Japan’s electoral system and gain public attention rather than to kill the former prime minister.
However, the court ruled that Kimura was fully aware of the deadly potential of his attack. According to reports by the Kyodo news agency, the court emphasized that targeting a political figure at an election event posed a severe threat to democracy and public safety.
Prosecution Demanded Harsher Sentence
Although Kishida escaped unharmed, two individuals suffered minor injuries during the attack. Prosecutors argued that Kimura had clear murderous intent, highlighting that the explosive device he used was potentially lethal. They had sought a 15-year prison sentence, but the court ultimately sentenced him to 10 years.
Attack Echoes Shinzo Abe’s Assassination
Kimura’s attack occurred less than a year after the shocking assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot during a campaign speech in Nara in 2022. The incidents have raised concerns over the security of political figures in Japan and the increasing risks of violence during public events.
With the verdict delivered, authorities hope this serves as a warning against future threats to Japan’s democratic process.
