In brief
A court in Wakayama found Ryuji Kimura guilty of crimes including attempted murder, related to a bomb attack in April 2023.
On February 19, 2025, a Japanese court handed down a 10-year prison sentence to Ryuji Kimura, 25, after he was found guilty of attempting to assassinate then-prime minister Fumio Kishida in a bomb attack. The incident took place in April 2023, when Kimura threw a homemade explosive device during Kishida's speech to supporters in Wakayama. Despite not hitting Kishida directly, the explosion injured two attendees. Prosecutors had sought a harsher 15-year sentence, highlighting Kimura's intention to attract public attention through his violent actions. Kimura claimed that he had no intent to kill.The attack was particularly shocking in Japan, where political violence is rare, and occurred less than a year after the assassination of former prime minister Shinzo Abe. The court noted that the explosive device was powerful enough to have killed Kishida had it detonated closer to him, amplifying the gravity of Kimura's actions. During the investigation, police discovered a second bomb in Kimura's possession, along with components for making more explosives at his residence. Following the attack, Kishida's security team successfully prevented a direct hit, highlighting the heightened vigilance required in the political landscape post-Abe. The ruling indicated that Kimura acted without regard for public safety, casting a shadow of fear across the nation. Kishida concluded his term in office in October 2023.
