Voices
in
Japan

have your say

An organization has sent a petition with 11,127 online signatures to prosecutors seeking a reduced sentence for Tetsuya Yamagami, who has been indicted for the murder of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and asking that they consider Yamagami's upbringing and his mother's massive donations to the Unification Church in his trial. What's your view on this?

19 Comments

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
Login to comment

I don't believe his sentence should be reduced. It may have been an unreasonable situation, or in other words, he may have been justified in being extremely angry, but his response was entirely inappropriate within the context of society, and cannot be excused or even mitigated for any reason. If someone feels strongly enough about an issue that they are willing to murder for it, they have to accept punishment. The best they may hope for is that they will call attention to the issue for that cost they will pay - which does seem to have happened. But no mitigation of sentence. Murder is not allowed.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This guy had a very well upbringing and after his father passed his mother gave money to the church which prevented him to continue the life he was given by his family. The mother gave all the money away which affected his life where as he couldn't go to college. After all this guy wanted to pursue a better life by going to college and becoming a possible upstanding citizen however that was all taken away by foolish behavior. I think that a reduced sentence of Tetsuya Yamagami, would be ok, but he should not be let off easy. I don't think he should get the death penalty or life in jail but he should pay for the crime. He should understand that he can't just go out and kill someone regardless of the situation they may have done that affected his way of life. I think that the prosecutors should consider Yamagami's upbringing and his mother's massive donations to the Unification Church in his trial because I think a person's family life and the environment in which they live(d) in effect the way a person behavior and outcome in life will be.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, Abe was a terrible PM. He was corrupt, selfish, and arrogant, like most politicians here, especially those of the LDP.

But, he was murdered - shot in the back in cold blood by Yamagami, who planned it for weeks, if not months.

Yamagami deserves no less a punishment than any cold-blooded premeditated murderer would receive. It's really that simple.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

 We lost that compass a long time ago thanks to the LDP - Moonie collusion. And whatever happens to the alleged murderer the moral compass will not be easily retrieved.

Not sure I see the link. The public lost their sense of judgment and morality due to some dodgy connections with moonies, happening in the background and in secret. How does that work exactly? Am thinking there's more at play here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Quote: " We are losing our moral compass to political noise and interference." We lost that compass a long time ago thanks to the LDP - Moonie collusion. And whatever happens to the alleged murderer the moral compass will not be easily retrieved.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Second that!

Mr KiplingJan. 29  07:16 am JST

Only 11,000? I think the majority of the population would support a light sentence considering the circumstances and the light now brought on the cult that will save others from the fate of Yamagami's family.

Whoever is collecting signatures needs to get more publicity.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Disgraceful, you wanna give him a pardon while you’re at it?

My fear was exactly this. With all the noise about the church ties with politicians and the anti-Abe crowd, the actual fact that this fella gunned down the PM in cold blood, shot him in the back dead; gets diluted. We are losing our moral compass to political noise and interference. The full force of the law must be applied otherwise he will inspire others to follow in macabre suit.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Not only a lighter sentence but rather set him free.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

while I usually don't agree with Mr Kipling, I agree here with him 100%

But it is undeniable that his action achieved his aim of calling attention to a problem that had been swept under the rug. It's uncomfortable to realize that an immoral act resulted in moral improvement - but there we are.

The reason that an immoral act resulted in moral improvement is because of Abe's morality deficit. We conveniently forget people whose lives were ruined, who committed suicide during the Morimoto scandal, who were thrown under the bus and went to jail- all to shield Abe and his wife from any responsibility for the damage the numerous scandals caused Japan and its people because of Abe's corruption. Somehow, we forgot about those lives destroyed and yet we mourn Abe's?

THEN, we find out that after YEARS of Abe's right wing politics and fomenting hate that he is in fact in bed with an CULT which he has allowed to continue to interfere in the politics of the nation.

Like it or not, Murder or not, Yamagami's actions have benefitted Japan.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

you are basically agreeing with Terrorism. The whole point of terrorism is to provoke political change by killing people and the use of violence.

Not exactly. The whole point of terrorism, as the name implies, is to sow terror - usually among the general public and usually for some political end. Political violence is something else. When a government fails to respond to people's needs long enough political violence is inevitable as frustration builds.

I don't condone what Yamagami did, and he should go to prison for it. But it is undeniable that his action achieved his aim of calling attention to a problem that had been swept under the rug. It's uncomfortable to realize that an immoral act resulted in moral improvement - but there we are.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Mr Yamagami's actions resulted in real change and people taking notice

If you think that the use of violence and killing people is a legitimate way to provoke political or societal change, you are basically agreeing with Terrorism. The whole point of terrorism is to provoke political change by killing people and the use of violence.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Sven Asai...

No way, murder is murder. He could have joined the other victims of that church who fight on TV , press or media conferences and through jurisdiction system etc. for their cause.

And been completely ignored as he was for many years. Mr Yamagami's actions resulted in real change and people taking notice. Perhaps if the LDP and other politicians were not hand in hand with the cult poor Mr Abe would still be alive.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

In an alleged premediated act of murderous intent Yamagami gunned down a innocent family man.

No more no less.

Those are the charges.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

No way, murder is murder. He could have joined the other victims of that church who fight on TV , press or media conferences and through jurisdiction system etc. for their cause. They had or have similar bad experiences, lost money, left that church etc, but they all wouldn’t come up with murder to have their rights reinstalled. In more general words, it’s just only brutal inhuman behavior , to murder someone else because of own money interests, whatever justified that might be or not.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The apologism against a 1st degree cold blooded murder makes me sick.

Not because you didn't liked Abe, or even in an extreme scenario where you think Abe is directly responsible for the death of someone, that DOESN'T justify murder.

But in this insane world we live now, somehow killing disliked politicians is an OK for some people, which tbh is scarry.

The precedent of just allowing killings of people who are "bad" or "problematic" to society has never led to good outcomes, but people do never learn from history.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

If the crimes perpetrated by Mr. Yamagami are proven any extenuating circumstances deemed on conviction/sentencing will be a matter for the J judiciary.

The allegations are heinous, unlawful killing with malice, premeditated.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Mr. Yamagami was OFFICIALLY judged SANE in his decision to shoot down Mr. Abe by, I presume, highly competent judges of such things. Should we argue with that? And if shooting down Mr. Abe were a SANE decision, given the insanity he (Mr. Abe, and now Mr. Kishida) advocated, where lies the controversy? Let the guy go.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

It can't have an impact on the due process. Yamagami will be most likely to get a guilty verdict, a life imprisonment with a possible parole.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Only 11,000? I think the majority of the population would support a light sentence considering the circumstances and the light now brought on the cult that will save others from the fate of Yamagami's family.

Whoever is collecting signatures needs to get more publicity.

11 ( +19 / -8 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites