Ex-PM Abe in critical condition after being shot while campaigning in Nara

Doesn't look good. He's in a state of 'cardiopulmonary arrest'. We all know what that usually means.

Tragic

No matter what you think of his politics he didn't deserve that.

Whether you agree or disagree with him politically is not relevant at this point. This is an attack on democracy and must be treated as domestic terrorism.

Shocking news. Not an Abe fan, but he didn't deserve this at all.

As far as gun attacks go ,Japan has the deserved reputation as a "safe" country, but Japanese history has a long and bloody tradition of political assassinations. I detest Abe, but he doesn't deserve to die at the hands of a deranged individual. It's ironic to think that had "justice" taken its course, Abe would now have been safely housed in private quarters at taxpayers' expense instead of fighting for his life in a hospital. Let's all hope he can soon recover from his wounds (and retire from politicking).

Unbelievable! Tragic news.

So sad. Abe once gave a speech (in perfect English) at a conference I attended. More impressively, the MC (very old guy) dropped his papers all over the stage when introducing Abe, and Abe actually picked up all the papers up off the ground while he was walking to the podium. It was a classy move.

O M G!! A dark day for politics in Japan and the world at large.

Same exact thing happened to a Nagasaki mayor.

Nobody should attack another human being, even politicians.

Incredibly sad news. Sure, he represents much of what is wrong with Japan and it's political system. But, that does not justify being murdered in cold blood on a public street. Just horrible. Third-world BS.

This should never have happened, I wonder how anyone could get close enough with a shotgun to do this.

It shouldn’t have happened, but it did. You have a lot of evil and sick people that will always find a way to harm others.

i am a vietnamese, i am very sad when the prime minister was shot by a bad guy, we wish you a speedy recovery.

Whether we agree on him or not, shooting someone on broad daylight is not a Japanese thing to do. Maybe in the US it's normal, but not in japan.

Not a fan of Abe... but what?! This is quite shocking.

He is a member.....

The alleged attacker Yamagami Tetsuya WAS previously a member of the maritime self defence forces.

Shocking. I am curious as to what the motive was.

Wow. Doesn't seem like Japan.

whether you agree with his politics or not, no one deserves this.

Japan has a long history of politically-motivated assassinations, let's not go all Pollyanna here. And yes, plenty of people here have guns, some registered, some not. Wake up.

Shot from behind in a cowardly attack. I hope he recovers fully. Thoughts with him and his family.

a key question is how can a guy with a shotgun get within close distance to the former prime minister while giving a speech??

I never liked him as a politician and as a man,but saying that I feel very sorry for such kind of outcome.

There should be never gun-violence involved and I pray that if there is still some hope that Mr.Abe can make it through.

CNN is reporting that Abe was conscious when he was being taken away. I sincerely hope he's okay

Just checked that. CNN relied on NHK for that information, but NHK news now reports that he has no vital signs.

This should never have happened, I wonder how anyone could get close enough with a shotgun to do this.

Shocking, especially coming out of Japan. I've been to Japan several times. There always seems to political speeches on the street. Most people don't seem to pay much attention. But I never thought something like this to happen. Very sad.

It appears from a picture that he used a homemade double barrel like shotgun as it has metal caps attached to each breach and the weapon is covered in black tape, probably to hold it all together. This would not need shotgun shells but could be used like a old style black powder musket where powder is loaded into the two barrels from the muzzle, a patch or wadding to hold the powder then projectiles are loaded. The smoke released is not typical of modern shotgun powder so could have been from something as common as fireworks or even homemade.

Latest news release says he is showing no vital signs.

One shot in chedt, the other one in the neck. From 3 meters, with a shotgun. Unfortunately, survival chances are minimal

Zeram1

Allegedly shot twice in the back at close range with a shotgun, it seems unlikely he could survive. A sad day for Japan.

Sad...

Not a fan of Abe but I hope he makes it and recovers.

I cannot imagine what his wife is going through.

Virtual hug to his family.

Looks like a sawed off double barreled shotgun to me with the barrel wrapped in black tape to hide it. Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, of Nara City is the shooter. Didn’t resist at all.

For people who don’t live in Japan, it is usual for politicians to campaign in public with basically no security. I was within 2 feet of Abe several years ago in Tokyo. I imagine campaigning will be somewhat different in the future, especially for high profile politicians

Which would *likely rule out 2 shots in quick succession

Two shots maybe 2 seconds apart at most are clearly audible in the video.

For people who don’t live in Japan, it is usual for politicians to campaign in public with basically no security

You may be surprised. Those suited men around politicians in Japan that just blend in are the armed security, or SP. I'd guess that Abe had around 6 armed SP. They do have pretty strong security, which makes this incident even more shocking.

Apparently shooter is former military...

"Innocent' is a bit of a reach. As the longest serving PM of Japan he did a lot to piss many people off.

I'm not an Abe fan, but to suggest that anything he did to piss people off (something all politicians do at somepoint) justifies somebody shooting him in the back is pretty outrageous.

I was just thinking this morning, I wonder who or what city is going to be the next victim of gun violence. Who could have predicted that this would hit so close to home

I wondered how the shooter had access to a gun with the rigid laws, and ohh, he was military and so most like he was shot with a government issued rifle.

It is almost impossible to take a military weapon off base, or even out of the armory without authorization. Besides, this guy was FORMER Navy, and only served for 3 years. He could have been a cook for all we know.

However, you’ve already been proven wrong, as the weapon was a homemade double barrel shotgun.

Good luck to Mr Abe and his family!

I wish him the best in recovery!

Unconfirmed, but close friend of Abe, Naoki Hyakuta, says former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot.

Wish we had more details on this.

Like what the motive was and the gun type.

This happened less than an hour ago, details will come soon.

This video shows only the first shot which did not hit Abe.

How do you know that first shot didn't hit him? Al Jazeera is saying he has no vital signs.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/8/japans-shinzo-abe-attacked-left-bleeding-reports

https://twitter.com/ScottMStedman/status/1545255612275388416?s=20&t=9nR__byoHCPi2GolZOJfvg

That BOOM, wow!

This was not subtle stuff.

Shotgun? That thing sounded like a cannon!

I sincerely hope he survives. Now is not the time for my usual opinion about what he did to the working class. May the hospital give him the best possible treatment, and may he recover to full health.

Wow... holy cow... I hope he is okay

The photo provided by Redstorm suggests the weapon is a homemade job, which in turn suggests a lone lunatic to me. It’s not easy to plan for people such as that, especially in such a relatively peaceful country. My prayers go out to Abe, his family and his friends.

In broad daylight with SP security, two shots off with a shotgun. Chances are slim, but I hope former PM Abe survives.

He is a member of the Japanese Navy(JMSDF).

@shogun36. just saw that twitter footage. Good lord the gun man was close, you can see the smoke. Where was security? looks like anyone could just walk by along the street from behind.

gotta say it but the security detail were really ..........dont know the word to use.

The picture of the gun looks most likely selfmade with two barrels. And the amount of smoke also indicates to me that these were no ordinary cartridges or shells. Black powder usually produces that amount of smoke. From a quick search, you can buy black powder for fireworks (since its used as a propellant in mortars). Although I don't know how hard or easy it is to buy.

But i guess we have to wait until more info gets released.

Here's hoping he can be saved, and that the best medical providers are available and guided to help him. This is so very sad to hear.

No matter what using violence is not the way.

In this case the attacker may actually bring opposite effect by consolidating LDP and improving their result.

Shocking news.

I just dropped in here and thought it was prank.

Whatever his views, he didn't deserve to be blasted at in the street like that.

I hope he survives.

This reminds me of the still unsolved shotgun attack and killing of an Asahi Shimbun reporter some years back.

Incidentally the Asahi confirms what some of the (marked down) posters above have been saying.

安倍氏の背後に向け、散弾銃のようなものが少なくとも2発発射された。銃のようなものは現場で押収されたという。At least two shots were fired from behind at Abé Shinzō’s from what looks like a shogun. The offending weapon was retrieved at the scene.

But i guess we have to wait until more info gets released.

I agree, and let's hope full truth comes out and is allowed to be released to the general public. iI's a sad day, but given how out of the ordinary this is in Japan. Japan to me remains one of the safest countries in the world, in large part because of its sensible gun laws Some posters are bound to speculate and use dodgy information sources or no sources whatsoever to make their positions, an unfortunate reality of social media and internet days

You may be surprised to know that there have been 22 political assassinations in modern Japanese history.

Looks like this was done by quickly looking on google.

if you look at it in detail, almost all of those 22 occurred a century ago. Modern political assassinations are rather few

I wander what would be the possible repercusions of this crime on the behavior of politicians at large.

I just watched an MSNBC clip. Apparently a homemade device using some pipes and a your of ammunition not available in Japan, suggesting that the ammunition too may have been improvised.

Sounds like a double barrelled homemade blunderbuss.

It is because we live in a society where guns are so rare and strictly controlled here in Japan, that prominent politicians can always stand by the side of the road and give speeches without any vetting of the crowd around them.

Unfortunately there are always going to be angry disturbed individuals in any country, and in this case one of them seems to have made a homemade gun from the Internet I suppose.

Being that it’s Abe, it’s international news, but any shooting is big news in Japan.

@qazwsx

Unfortunately there are always going to be angry disturbed individuals in any country, and in this case one of them seems to have made a homemade gun from the Internet I suppose.

You are making too many assumptions about the shooter. We have no idea if this shooting was politically motivated. For all we know, he may be just some crazed AKB48 fan trying to get the attention of some teeny bopper member of the group.

Shocking. I am curious as to what the motive was.

In a news story, the shooter apparently said that he was frustrated with Abe and had the intention of killing him. Kind of vague and weird two years after his resignation. I don't think the police will be disclosing much information any time soon, despite a large media circus around it.

Having just seen a grainy cellphone video, the thing that immediately strikes you is Abe freezes after the first shot. He doesn't move an inch. Sad to watch, he was a sitting duck for the second shot. The TV cameraperson filming instantly drops after the first shot, why didn't Abe? The security were so slow and incompetent to react.

Sad / shocking / scary news. It doesn’t look good but I’m still wishing him strength.

Hopefully, he’s OK, but it looks bad.

Shocking, devastating for his family. I hope he is able to pull through.

"unconscious" is often used in the news, before they confirm that someone has died. Like they poor people in that tour boat in Hokkaido. "12 people have been recovered, they are currently  unconscious".

Tragic, He wwas not a great PM. But he took the job twice when no one else could keep going at it. RIP.

CNN is reporting that Abe was conscious when he was being taken away. I sincerely hope he's okay

NHK website already devoting considerable coverage to how this news story is being reported overseas.

Now you know things aren't good in Japan when this happens.

The assassin is a former Maritime Self Defense Force officer, hey why he is so angry with Abe?

Basically they waited for his wife to come from Tokyo to the hospital. Then they officially declared death

They waited for his wife to arrive, and then released the unfortunate news.

I was hoping he could be one of the lucky ones, even after being shot multiple times, there’s always hope, but… no. Rest In Peace.

They have now officially announced that he is dead.

What are the chances of a national holiday for the funeral? Probably not for an ex PM?

Anyway thoughts and prayers....

This should never have happened, I wonder how anyone could get close enough with a shotgun to do this.

The news photos are showing the weapon appears to be a sawed off shotgun concealed in some sort of gym bag or duffel.

News agencies are reporting two bodyguards also shot.

Which would *likely rule out 2 shots in quick succession

WOW! That is so heavy on many levels. My coworkers (Japanese) were and still are in total shock. He has my prayers for a good recovery.

Having fired shotguns and knowing the sound and hearing the video; I am pretty sure that it wasn’t a pistol but something much more powerful.

If given cardiac massage after being shot, medical state is highly serious without immediate blood transfusion I believe.

Wish him recovery, and it is a sad day in all cases.

government spokesperson said "意識なく、かなり生命が危ない". "he is not conscious, and in a life-threatening state". Which also means that he is still alive, let's hope for the best

Hope he pulls through. Honestly though, I'm surprised there aren't more incidents like this. I strolled around one of Abe's speeches when he was PM and I was shocked at how lax security is.

This video here shows the apparent weapon laying on the ground. It looks homemade and given the barrel size, I'm surprised that no one else was injured.

https://twitter.com/TheTokyoFoodie/status/1545264512638795776

I just dropped in here and thought it was prank.

Someone posted about it in some thread I was on some time ago, I thought nothing of it.

bass4funk

I post a Daily Mail link.

Scroll down to the third and fourth photos.

This is the alleged shooter in the process of being apprehended.

What appears to be strapped across his chest, has fallen to the ground in the forth photo.

It could be the fire arm in question.

A homemade short barreled, possibly a shortened modified shot gun

Despicable crime. Hope he comes through this. He’s certainly one of the more recognizable Japanese politicians of the 21st century at least.

I would assume that it wouldn't be too difficult to make shotguns, so I hope there aren't going to be copycat shootings.

I’m not gonna say I don’t like politics but I never really cared and I always hated how politics affect people’s judgment and their humanity. I was never a big fan of Abe but this?! I’m wishing him and his family the best!

Awful news.

The assassin was obviously very motivated to construct the weapon and then carry out the act itself.

Added to this is the fact that he belonged to the Japanese military.

We may or may not ever hear about the true reasons why he felt compelled to do this...not holding my breath, everything related to this case will be carefully weighted and evaluated before being released.

Shocking in a country not known for gun violence. However, political assassinations have occurred many times in the past, may be not as high profile as this attempt but they do happen here. The article states that " he is not breathing and his heart has stopped". This doesn't sound good at all. It will take a miracle to bring him back. Sad day for Japanese politics.

Disgustingly China seems to be celebrating this sad news.

https://mobile.twitter.com/TGTM_Official/status/1545295869737443328

The assassin was obviously very motivated to construct the weapon and then carry out the act itself. 

Added to this is the fact that he belonged to the Japanese military.

Yes, I agree he was very motivated and premeditated. But what is with the media obsession with his former (3 years) of service? He served in the Navy from 2002-2005. And for all we know, he was probably a cook or a mechanic, and never fired a rifle after basic training.

Lee Harvey Oswald, who killed JFK was a former Marine, but I don’t remember the media calling him “Former Marine” like the Japanese media is doing with Yamagami.

Dead at 67.

Death confirmed.

He has passed away. My heart goes out to Akie, his wife. I cannot imagine the pain she is in.

私は祈ります。

Severly lax security team. Beyond abysmal.

CitizenSmithToday  03:54 pm JST

His security team obviously weren't up to the job.

Any of the videos I've seen appear to show his security team members either looking at Shinzo or the crowd gathered in front. Literally, no one had his back......Fail

The suspect according to news report used what appeared to be a homemade double barrel gun. Such a weapon is difficult to conceal. So his security couldn't pick this? As the writer above rightly said they were all focused on the crowd and the man .......nobody had his back. The assassin picked his position carefully being a former military man. It's so sad.

Condolences to wife, children 

Children?

He was shot on an open street, at a bus stop nearby!

That poor man and his poor family and friends.

That won't be necessary.

A shotgun either shoot a slug or buckshot,both is probably fatal if up close

The moment Abe san was shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKydthrUCHs

all of us just may speculate about various reasons why him,why now and what for...

Who knows why? Does it matter at this point? An innocent man has been shot and is fighting for his life. The what, how and why questions will come later.

There's a new video of the first shot going off, that looked like a hell of a lot of smoke for a shotgun. Looked more like a muzzleloader/black powder ... which would unlikely rule out two shots in quick succession.

Correction: A hand made firearm that fires shotgun shells.

who is the idiot here downvoting news information?

Was the gun a homemade blunderbus ?

@Yrral

Newsweek,say local authorities say gravely ill, meaning not good

It would also mean that he is alive...which I would think is good news

Thoughts and prayers for abeson.

so sad! everyone should be able to walk the streets and say their piece in peace!

RIP

Having never met the man, I have nothing against him personally. All I can hope is that he somehow survives and recovers from this terrible attack. He didn't deserve this. Japan doesn't deserve this.

I'm shocked by this, and feel really upset. I think because this sort of thing is so rare in Japan. His family must be devastated. I didn't agree with his policies, but nobody deserves to be shot at for their political views in a democracy. His 100,000 yen was a good send at a difficult time. I hope he survived.

So sad to hear the news.

Praying for Shinzo Abe’s full recovery.

Assassination of an former prime minister of Japan by a Japanese assassin. I never would have thought it could happen!!! I hope he recovers!!!

Whether we agree on him or not, shooting someone on broad daylight is not a Japanese thing to do. Maybe in the US it's normal, but not in japan.

I think it's more telling that you seem to be implying that it's normal and somehow acceptable anywhere in the world. Basic humanity shouldn't pay any heed to nationality or international borders.

I want to cut them a break because they are not used to guns but the Special Police seem rather ordinary today.

The suspect takedown video showed what appeared to be a homemade double barrel shotgun.

Given that the large amount of smoke was very inconsistent with what a shotgun blast would produce, I wonder of he jury-rigged a charge by taking apart fireworks, in order to fire some sort of projectile...

MOST HORRIBLE AND SHOCKING NEWS HAS COME FROM JAPAN . PRAY TO GOD FOR HIS SPEEDY RECOVERY

The firearm in question would have to be concealed, to give an example of the noise a saw off creates.

Sawed off 12 Gauge.... excuse the red neck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kWWgaxM_qg

Abe was shot in the back not the chest.

If you look at the photo when he's lying on his back, there appear to be exit wounds on his upper left chest though...

Those who really want guns to do bad things can get them, even in countries with the scrictes "gun laws" in the world. Proof/pudding.

”If people break laws, why have laws in the first place?” - a very smart person commenting on the probable death of a victim of assassination.

WHAT SHOCKING NEWS!

My thoughts are with his family and friends. Australians are shocked too.

My thoughts are with all Japan and I hope this does not give other crazy maniacs ideas of making a gun.

All we can do is pray he survives.

NHK is reporting that Abe has died. May he RIP

Another political assassination in safety Japan. They happen a lot more often than people would like to think. I hope he pulls through but it doesn’t look good for him.

Sincere condolences. Words fail at this time.

You can bet that going forward this is all going to change how people engage politicians and celebrities and you will never be able to get close to these wolle again and expect more body searches, it’s going to get very ugly

@BeerDeliveryGuy

Yes for all we know he could have been a cook or mechanic...which would go a long way to explaining why he would plan and then carry out an assassination of the former Prime Minister, right?

Interesting that you should push for that line of reasoning, when in fact everything is still unknown outside of the fact that it appears premeditated, and that he was in the Japanese military.

He was shot with a shotgun not a handgun, so his chances of survival are not good

Shocking and tragic event. RiP.

I will be very interested to learn more about the weapon, if it was home manufactured, the shells and if they too were home manufactured.

As CaptDingleheimer noted, that was a hell of a lot of smoke and no visible reaction (and it seems no collateral casualties) from the first blast.

Did the shell somehow fail?

I would be seated for this......

The shooting plus arrest of the alleged shooter.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 67, is gravely injured after being shot in the chest during speech: Man, 42, is arrested at the scene

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10993735/Former-Japanese-Prime-Minister-Shinzo-Abe-shot-speech.html

Aly RustomToday 01:39 pm JST

Just out of curiosity does anyone know who the woman kneeling to the right of Abe with a shocked look on her face is?*

A call was made to the crowd for doctors and nurses to come forward. Guess she is a doctor or nurse as is the other woman.

Thanks storm! I actually was wondering if the woman with her back to us is Akie Abe

This is the first news of Abe I've seen in a long time.

Just hoping now something positive would come out of this

I gotta admit, I'm feeling a bit bad about all those Abenomasks jokes I've made over the past two years. Its really horrible what has happened.

Oh no, just on the tv news in Sydney, ex PM Abe has died.

God Bless his soul.

My heart goes out to his family and the Jjapanese people, and I know all Australians are sad of this terrible news.

Ex PM Abe was the first PM to address our Federal Parliament, and was highly regarded by politicians and the people of Australia.

Very sad day.

Terrible, but I didn’t want to jump ahead, but I knew he wasn’t going to make it. From that kind of attack at that close proximity the chances for survival was less than 5%

Just tragic! Rest in piece.

This was barbaric, callous, and premeditated.. Rest In Peace Abe san. Condolences to wife, children and relative. Sorry for your loss Japan.

The doctors don’t want to direct say. He died at the scene, but that’s pretty much what happened. Not a Pulmonary heart condition. He was never going to pull through from those kinds of injuries.

Some people think that vigilant was done or divine justice, which i understand their views because before he dies, he had been pressuring media or people's opinions against his view to shut down. ironically, his mouth was shut down by violence. I am very concerned with the criminal's motivation. the reporters said that according to police, his incentive is not from political principle but from his bad manners and practices, which i doubt. Traditionally, in those cases, mafia members were involved, but this criminal, used to be marine self defense force, seems not to be related with mafia.

A very sad day indeed, There was total lack of security maybe based on the assumption

that Japan is safe. Unbelievable that there were no SPs watching Abe's back. Instead of doing their

job they were probably facing the crowd and listening to Abe's speech and clapping.

Hope this acts as an eye opener that Japan is not as safe as people have been made to believe.

Given the forum and the level of many commentators, I am not surprised to read “I was no fan of…, but…” in my family, we are sorrowing a death. The fact that we support and vote for Abe-san’s party is secondary.

Yes for all we know he could have been a cook or mechanic...which would go a long way to explaining why he would plan and then carry out an assassination of the former Prime Minister, right?

Interesting that you should push for that line of reasoning, when in fact everything is still unknown outside of the fact that it appears premeditated, and that he was in the Japanese military

I’m just pointing out the obsession the Japanese media has about a suspect’s former military service.

They play it out like it was a key element in their criminal activity.

Unlike what Hollywood tells you, not all ex-military are badass killers.

A lot of the Marines I worked with were accountants, nurses, logistics, HVAC maintenance, tractor mechanic and so on… and would probably struggle in a fight with your average salaryman.

You wouldn’t expect that in a country like Japan that has safe and stringent gun laws

At the extremely slow pace that they loaded him into the medical helicopter, it appears that he most likely is deceased.

Sad that people can't shed their own biases during time of tragedy.

I pray this was just a Japanese citizen disgruntled due to mental illness and nothin else.

This is an example that there are other things in apart from corona to be worried of… hope it recovers soon!

I didn’t agree with his nationalistic politics but jeez… and in Japan? The BBC is reporting that a hunting rifle was used and that he had no vital signs

Sounds like the shooters device was a old style hand cannon

@paul 14

not rate in japan

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Assassinated_Japanese_politicians

Please remove the first photo in the article. Due dignity.

The Dr. in the press conference is giving the impression that he was DOA.

My condolences to the family.

Perhaps it is time for Japanese politicians to embrace the modern world and end the "campaign Van" and join the 20th century with TV adds and time and join the 21st century on social media.

We are no longer 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, etc... We are 2022 and anything and everything can be ordered online, 3D printed and a how to make just about anything is available online on YouTube, etc..

Apparently the assassin made his gun and I suspect we will see more of this type of thing and not just guns but all sorts of things and devices.

Awful news.

RIP.

Bodyguards? Shotgun?? maji kaaaa? Just watched the footage. Just how??

according to latest news at other jpn sources according to distance between him and shooter and also place where he was shot giving low chance to none that he can make it.

all of us just may speculate about various reasons why him,why now and what for...

This video shows only the first shot which did not hit Abe.

If that’s the case then it sounds like a slug shot.

Terrible news, but Japan will persevere.

Incorrect. Of the 22, 15 were committed in the 20th century and the rest during the Meiji and 2 in Edo

Thanks for the information. The exact dates are

AD645 - 1, Edo - 3, Meiji - 8, Taisho - 1, Showa - 7, Heisei - 2 (3 after WWII)

I was thinking more narrowly of the "modern" category.

I thought it was after World War II. Very sorry.　Anyway, this is an unrelated topic, so I'll stop now.

Meiji - 1868 - 1912

Taisho - 1912 - 1926

Showa - 1926 - 1988

It was a home made device, Not a gun,

2 shots in the back with a shot gun. Loan gun man or…. Time will tell, maybe.

My thoughts and prayers with him.

Cardiorespiratory arrest that means he has gone!

You may be surprised to know that there have been 22 political assassinations in modern Japanese history.

I heard about it for the first time. Can you please tell me the source?

Just out of curiosity does anyone know who the woman kneeling to the right of Abe with a shocked look on her face is?

Japan to me remains one of the safest countries in the world, in large part because of its sensible gun laws Some posters are bound to speculate and use dodgy information sources or no sources whatsoever to make their positions, an unfortunate reality of social media and internet days

Even with that in mind this tragedy happens, the reality is the world overall is a dangerous place. I hope we find out real soon as to all of the details dealing with this individual. Just a matter of time.

Even the Russians have found out. From:

https://topwar.ru/198758-v-sindzo-abje-streljal-byvshij-voennosluzhaschij-morskih-sil-samooborony-japonii.html

Shinzo Abe was shot by a former member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

From the Japanese city of Nara, there are reports of a deterioration in the health of Shinzo Abe after the assassination attempt on him. As already reported by "Military Review", the former Prime Minister of Japan received a gunshot wound during his speech on the presentation of candidates for the Senate from the Liberal Democratic Party. Abe received two gunshot wounds. Striking elements from the back hit the lung and, according to some reports, broke one of the arteries.

According to the latest information, 41-year-old Japanese citizen Tetsue Yamagami opened fire on Shinzo Abe. Previously, the man served in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (similar to the Navy). He brought to the square where the politician's speech took place, a home-made double-barreled shotgun. The weapon was made from pieces of a water pipe mounted on a wooden base and rewound with wire and tape. The total length of homemade weapons is up to 30 cm. The

attacker on the former prime minister was arrested. At the same time, during the arrest attempt, he resisted. The motives of the person who carried out the shooting are not reported at the moment.

After his arrest, he was charged with attempted murder and illegal manufacture and possession of firearms.

It is reported that an ambulance arrived at the site of the assassination attempt about 15 minutes after the shots were fired. During this time, Abe's associates tried to help him.

"A barbaric act like this is absolutely unforgivable, no matter what the reasons are, and we condemn it strongly,” Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said"

Violence for the sake of violence. Really, why?

I'm still shaken can't believe this happens in a safe Japan.

Japan do not have level 1,trauma doctor on standby,to treat gunshots,either for slugs or buckshot

Abe long-term populism of being prime minister or Japan for being the safest country in the world? Well, I can see the whole world focusing on this news in a fraction of a few minutes and a few hours...

Another classic case...the guy who shot him just want to get the death penalty, no other reasons !

What video?

A prime minister who treated foreigners living in Japan very well. Get well soon!!

please remove that photo, everyone has a right to their dignity.

Newsweek,say local authorities say gravely ill, meaning not good

We do t know the gun or what caliber the distance proximity or exactly where he was shot, it all hangs on these factors

Odzutsu is a Japanese hand Canon

He got shot in the chest with a shotgun, western news agency ,say cardiac arrest and unresponsive

Deeply saddened to hear something very American happening here in Japan.

The bullet probably entered his chest cavity and ricocheted out of his chest, that seems plausible

My coworkers (Japanese) were and still are in total shock.

Very head in the sand, their reluctance to take notice of the signs that these lone wolves with their death wish antics are semaphoring their way. It’s the kind of epoch defining event that should, but probably won’t, put the fear of God into the business as usual elites presiding over the slow motion track wreck of growing inequality and hopelessness that’s inspiring more and more nutters into acting out deeds of devil may care perversity.

You do have access to Google, don't you?

Try Wikipedia for starters:

Thank you. Most of them are from the Meiji era. I see that the Edo period is also included.　hahaha

Newsweek,say local authorities say gravely ill, meaning not good

Japan's longest serving leader

No Abe wasn't Japan's longest serving leader !

Those who really want guns to do bad things can get them, even in countries with the scrictes "gun laws" in the world. Proof/pudding.

I guess the election will be postponed

Wish we had more details on this.

Like what the motive was and the gun type.

My guess a double barrel hunting rifle.