- Ryuji Kimura sentenced to 10 years for attempted murder
- Kimura threw pipe bomb at former PM Fumio Kishida in 2023
- Attack sparked concerns over politicians' security in Japan
A 25-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the attempted murder of Japan’s former Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, during an election event in 2023.
Ryuji Kimura was convicted after throwing a pipe bomb at Kishida as the prime minister approached a crowd for a speech in the city of Wakayama. While Kishida was unharmed, the explosion of the homemade device caused minor injuries to a police officer and a bystander.
The attack, which occurred less than a year after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, shocked the nation. Kimura, who was sentenced on Wednesday, claimed during questioning that his intention was not to kill Kishida but to protest Japan’s election age regulations, which prevented him from entering politics.
In Japan, the minimum age for becoming a member of parliament is 25 for the House of Representatives and 30 for the House of Councillors. Kimura explained that he threw the bomb to draw attention to a civil lawsuit he filed in 2022, which claimed that the age restrictions were unconstitutional. The lawsuit was dismissed.
Kimura’s defense argued that he should not face a charge of attempted murder because he did not expect the bomb to cause injuries. His legal team also contended that a three-year prison sentence would be reasonable, given the minor injuries sustained by the victims.
However, the court ruled that the explosive device was powerful enough to have caused fatal harm. Presiding Judge Keiko Fukushima stated, “Targeting a serving prime minister caused significant anxiety to society as a whole.”
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Kimura was found guilty of violating explosives regulations and firearms control laws. His 10-year sentence was five years less than the punishment sought by prosecutors.
While violent attacks are rare in Japan, concerns about the security of politicians have grown following the assassination of Abe in 2022. The attack on Kishida, which occurred less than a year later, has raised questions about the adequacy of security measures around the country’s political leaders.
