Tag - assassination

 
 

ASSASSINATION

Metropolitan Police Department Superintendent-General Yuji Sakoda delivers a speech at the inauguration of a section specializing in the investigaton of lone offender terrorism on Tuesday in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 1, 2025
Tokyo police launch section for lone-offender terrorism
The move followed a series of attacks in recent years, including the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and others attend a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2025
Opposition urges LDP to reinvestigate ties with Unification Church
The move comes following a court order to strip the group of its religious corporation status.
Nobuya Fukumoto (far left), a lawyer for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, is surrounded by the media at the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday after it ordered the group to be stripped of its religious corporation status.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 25, 2025
Tokyo court strips Unification Church of religious corporation status
The order against the group, heavily criticized for its coercive tactics in soliciting donations, removes its tax-exempt status.
The Tokyo District Court is expected to present its decision regarding the dissolution the Unification Church on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 23, 2025
Tokyo court may decide on Unification Church dissolution on Tuesday
The fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shed light on the Unification Church's controversial practices.
The logo of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, better known as the Unification Church, is seen at the entrance of its Japan branch headquarters in Tokyo in October 2023.
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Mar 15, 2025
Unification Church faces dissolution in Japan
The dissolution would remove the church's tax-exempt status while branding the organization a harmful entity.
According to the National Police Agency, 99% of speech venues during last year’s House of Representatives election had baggage inspections carried out.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 4, 2025
Election speech sites step up security after failed 2023 Kishida attack
The National Police Agency has applied greater pressure on speech organizers to enforce security measures following the 2023 failed attack on former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
People lay flowers before the two year anniversary of the shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the city of Nara on July 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 16, 2024
Trump shooting reminds Japan of similar attacks on politicians at home
The attack on the former U.S. president evoked memories of similar incidents involving Japan's prime ministers.
Politicians pay their respects to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday in the city of Nagato, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 11, 2024
Two years after Abe’s death, LDP's conservatives still lack direction
The absence of a figure who is able to embody conservative ideals and marshal widespread consensus within the party has weighed heavily on conservatives.
The date for Tetsuya Yamagami's first hearing of a trial for his murder case against former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has not yet been set.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 9, 2024
Two years on: Trial date for Abe's accused shooter still not set
Pretrial proceedings are still underway at Nara District Court.
Police officers stand guard during a campaign speech by a Lower House by-election candidate in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, in April 2023.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 8, 2024
Police beef up security measures ahead of upcoming election
Two years after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a review of dignitary protection is being conducted.
A visitor prays for late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at a flower stand set up near the site of his shooting in the city of Nara, on Monday, the second anniversary of his death.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 8, 2024
Ex-PM Abe remembered, two years after fatal shooting
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said that he would continue to carry on agendas pursued by Abe.
A sign for Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, more commonly known as the Unification Church, at its Tokyo headquarters
JAPAN / Society
Jul 7, 2024
Unification Church in tough position two years after Abe shooting
As Monday marks the second anniversary of the fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Unification Church finds itself in a difficult position.
A man offers a prayer in Nakano, Nagano Prefecture, on May 25 near the site where four people were fatally stabbed or shot a year before.
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2024
Japan enacts bill to ban encouragement of illegal gun ownership
Such acts will be punishable by a prison sentence of up to one year or a maximum fine of ¥300,000.
Police officers carry out checks on people arriving to listen to a campaign speech in the city of Oita in April last year.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 15, 2024
Police agency's 'mettle' being tested one year after Kishida attack
The National Police Agency is working with politicians to tighten security at campaign rallies one year after the prime minister was attacked.
JAPAN
Mar 1, 2024
Japan bill would punish those who encourage unlawful gun ownership
The bill is also aimed at toughening requirements to qualify for possessing a so-called half-rifle hunting gun.
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2023
Japanese police to restrict online posts on making guns
The National Police Agency plans to penalize malicious online posts regarding the manufacturing and transfer of guns that incite unlawful possession.
Tomihiro Tanaka, president of the Japan branch of the Unification Church also known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, bows his head in apology during a news conference on Tuesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 7, 2023
Unification Church ready to set aside ¥10 billion fund for victims
The announcement was made as lawmakers contemplate measures to secure the church’s assets if the court decides to strip the group of its special status.
Samples of The Japan Times winning news coverage, recognized by the World Association of News Publishers Asian Media Awards.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2023
Japan Times wins awards for breaking news and feature reporting
The Japan Times receives gold awards for breaking news coverage and feature writing at the World Association of News Publishers Asian Media Awards.
The late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, is depicted on a leaflet marking the first anniversary of his death in September 2012
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 16, 2023
Japan's media has to account for its failures, too
The Unification Church is set to be dissolved and Johnny & Associates is undergoing structural reforms. What role did the media play, or not play?
The Japan headquarters of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, known as the Unification Church, in Tokyo on Friday
JAPAN / Explainer
Oct 13, 2023
What’s next in the Unification Church saga?
The government sought a court order on Friday to strip the Unification Church of its religious corporation status. The process is just beginning.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan