Former Prime Minister Abe, who was giving a speech in Nara City, was arrested for being shot and killed. Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, told police that he had a grudge against a specific group. I thought that former Prime Minister Abe had a connection. "



What kind of person is the suspect?

What is the focus of future investigations?


Also, the 10th is the polling day for the Upper House election, but what kind of impact will it have on the political world in the future?



This is a commentary by Mikijo Nakamura of the Social Affairs Department and Yoshinobu Oguchi of the Political Affairs Department.



(The video is 4 minutes and 22 seconds. It cannot be viewed on data broadcasting.)

-Ask reporter Nakamura.

The statements are becoming clear little by little, but what kind of person is the suspect?



According to police, Yamagami is currently unemployed, but according to several Ministry of Defense officials, he worked for the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Kure district in Hiroshima prefecture for three years until 2005.


Homemade guns were used in this case, but police officials have stated that the suspect had "manufactured multiple pistols and explosives so far."



The Self-Defense Forces are believed to have been educated in shooting and disassembling rifles, and police are investigating the details.



-What kind of gun was used in this case?



The handmade gun used in the incident was about 40 cm long and 20 cm high, and a search at home on the 8th revealed that several more similar guns were confiscated.



Near the place where the suspect was arrested, a cylinder wrapped with black tape had fallen.



A critic who is familiar with firearms who saw this video told NHK that it was a "dense gun" made by arranging two iron pipes side by side and wrapping adhesive tape etc. It is a policy to proceed with detailed appraisal.



-Where will the focus of future investigations be?



Elucidation of the motive and the background of the incident.


Former Prime Minister Abe will give a speech in Nara City on the 8th, which means that it was decided in a hurry on the afternoon of the 7th.


In situations where it is unlikely that you had a careful plan in advance, the focus of your investigation will be why you had multiple guns at home and when you decided to shoot.



Regarding the motive, Mr. Yamagami made a statement to the effect that "I had a grudge against a specific group and I thought that the former Prime Minister had a close relationship with this group, so I aimed at it," and former Prime Minister Abe made a speech in Nara City. It is known that he stated that he had grasped the matter by looking at the homepage at home.



The police are planning to analyze the materials seized from their homes and smartphones to clarify the whole picture of the unprecedented case where the former Prime Minister was shot and killed.

-From here, I will ask a small reporter.

What kind of impact do you see on the political world in the future?



I think there are various aspects.


Mr. Abe established the longest government in history and was said to be "Abe's top 1" at that time.



After retiring from the Prime Minister, he was the head of the LDP's largest faction, actively speaking on policy, and showing influence and presence.



Prime Minister Kishida has also managed the administration while relying on Mr. Abe's centripetal force in both domestic affairs and diplomacy.



A government official said, "It is certain that the big flow of politics will change," and it is expected that changes will occur in the dynamics of the LDP and the method of government management.



-10th is the voting day for the Upper House election.

How do you see the impact on the elections?



Some parties have forgotten the campaign on the 8th, but on the 9th, the final day of the election campaign, the ruling and opposition parties will need to show their willingness to violence, and will do so as usual.


The government also plans to thoroughly guard the ministers and senior officials of the ruling and opposition parties, as well as the speech venues of each candidate.



In the background, I think there is a common understanding beyond the ruling and opposition parties that if this incident affects the implementation of elections, it could shake the foundation of democracy.



It can be said that we voters are also required to reconsider the meaning of keeping free and fair elections.