Former PM Abe Assassinated
Jul 16, 2022, 2:08 am
#61
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Is there going to be a state funeral or something big that involves foreign dignitaries? It seems like international coverage of the Abe assassination has faded.
Jul 16, 2022, 6:24 am
#62
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So the initial narrative of "crazed ex-Navy attacker kills highly respected former-PM" made great headlines. And at first, the motive was simply "he had a grudge" which served well enough.
But when the story started to evolve to include the Moonies, and then Abe's links to this cult became ever more clear, and the LDP's links started to also emerge, and people started asking about Abe's war criminal grandfather who was the one who first brought the Moonies to Japan, and then more was learned on how this gunman's mom was scammed by this cult for about a million bucks which utterly ruined the guy's whole family... yeah, foreign media didn't like the story so much anymore. The emerging facts muddied the water of that simple yet tragic original headline of "highly respected statesman killed by crazy gunman".
But more info keeps coming. Seems that the gunman grew up with not just a neglectful mom who was obsessed with the cult, but his dad committed suicide when he was a young child. Then the gunman himself attempted suicide when he was in the Navy so that his brother and sister could get a life insurance payout he took out for them in order to save them from their mom's bankruptcy (the family apparently had nothing much to eat when growing up because the mom gave the Moonies absolutely everything). But eventually, the gunman's brother (who grew up with only one eye due to childhood cancer) actually did kill himself about 7 years ago due to all the stress.
I find no honor in what this guy did by killing Abe, but I kinda feel sorry for him with the crummy hand he was dealt.
Jul 16, 2022, 8:05 am
#63
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Jul 16, 2022, 5:37 pm
#64
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So its now coming out that the gunman did in fact send out a letter the day before he shot Abe. He sent it to a blogger who is a critic of the Moonies. Aside from explaining his story, he also included copies of documents submitted to the Moonies asking for the family's money back (signed by his mom) which they apparently just ignored. He also said that since Abe has chosen to be connected with the Moonies, he sees him a culpable. But the full text hasn't been released yet (and its for now only being reported in just a few Japanese media outlets). https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20220717-OYT1T50010/
Jul 16, 2022, 9:02 pm
#65
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Yah. This situation has caused media to pause. Because the facts don't suit the narrative. I'm empathic all around and stunned at the f Ed up cult activity in Japan that seems to be fine at senior levels. Normally cults are associated with the fringe and not ruling political members. What a mess.
Jul 17, 2022, 9:25 am
#66
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And somehow, with this big public tax-funded state funeral being planned for Abe, everybody simply forgot the massive scandal Abe and especially his wife had caused in 2018 (while he was PM) which not only led to a Finance Ministry staff's suicide, but led to a 100 million yen payout to that guy's family from the government (i.e. with tax money) in order to silence them and prevent the details of the scandal from coming out into the public via their law suits.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/d9b96ce1eb43-japan-govt-to-pay-damages-over-bureaucrat-suicide-linked-to-scandal.html
(at the heart of the scandal, Abe's wife was part of a land deal and had the Finance Ministry cook the books so the buyer could get a special discount. This deal was for Nippon Kaigi, which is a powerful ultra-nationalistic group that is essentially a cult)
Last edited by alan11; Jul 17, 2022 at 9:34 am
Jul 18, 2022, 10:09 am
#67
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It was very well known for years (decades even) that Abe's wife was into some peculiar religious stuff and was very often out "on retreat".
And somehow, with this big public tax-funded state funeral being planned for Abe, everybody simply forgot the massive scandal Abe and especially his wife had caused in 2018 (while he was PM) which not only led to a Finance Ministry staff's suicide, but led to a 100 million yen payout to that guy's family from the government (i.e. with tax money) in order to silence them and prevent the details of the scandal from coming out into the public via their law suits.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/d9b96ce1eb43-japan-govt-to-pay-damages-over-bureaucrat-suicide-linked-to-scandal.html
(at the heart of the scandal, Abe's wife was part of a land deal and had the Finance Ministry cook the books so the buyer could get a special discount. This deal was for Nippon Kaigi, which is a powerful ultra-nationalistic group that is essentially a cult)
And somehow, with this big public tax-funded state funeral being planned for Abe, everybody simply forgot the massive scandal Abe and especially his wife had caused in 2018 (while he was PM) which not only led to a Finance Ministry staff's suicide, but led to a 100 million yen payout to that guy's family from the government (i.e. with tax money) in order to silence them and prevent the details of the scandal from coming out into the public via their law suits.
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/12/d9b96ce1eb43-japan-govt-to-pay-damages-over-bureaucrat-suicide-linked-to-scandal.html
(at the heart of the scandal, Abe's wife was part of a land deal and had the Finance Ministry cook the books so the buyer could get a special discount. This deal was for Nippon Kaigi, which is a powerful ultra-nationalistic group that is essentially a cult)
Also, could you please quote some of the article?
Jul 18, 2022, 12:05 pm
#68
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moritomo_Gakuen
suicide here
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/24/w...l-dossier.html
Short version: Regional finance bureau official committed suicide after being pressured to alter details of a land scandal involving Abe and his wife.
Jul 18, 2022, 4:01 pm
#69
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https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2...o-scandal.html
From the article:
The Japanese government said Wednesday it has agreed to pay damages to a former Finance Ministry bureaucrat's wife who alleges her husband killed himself after being ordered to tamper with documents related to favoritism allegations against then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The decision to pay around 100 million yen ($880,000) in compensation as sought by Masako Akagi, 50, ends the suit filed nearly two years ago between the state and the plaintiff and ensures the detailed process leading to the alteration of the documents will not be revealed.
The decision to pay around 100 million yen ($880,000) in compensation as sought by Masako Akagi, 50, ends the suit filed nearly two years ago between the state and the plaintiff and ensures the detailed process leading to the alteration of the documents will not be revealed.
Jul 18, 2022, 9:13 pm
#71
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Jul 18, 2022, 9:14 pm
#72
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OPINION: Why former Japan PM Abe is much more highly praised abroad
Mr. Abe left Japan largely where he found it: as in effect a cheap labor economy with 40 percent of the workforce on short-term and nonregular contracts, declining marriage and birth rates, and chronically depressed household demand.
It is in foreign and security policy that Mr. Abe's legacy really lies, which is why in the aftermath of his untimely and tragic death he has been much more highly praised abroad than at home, where his achievements were fewer and his opinions more controversial.
It is in foreign and security policy that Mr. Abe's legacy really lies, which is why in the aftermath of his untimely and tragic death he has been much more highly praised abroad than at home, where his achievements were fewer and his opinions more controversial.
Jul 18, 2022, 9:27 pm
#74
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Jul 18, 2022, 11:29 pm
#75
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Accused Abe assassin attempted suicide 17 yrs ago to trigger insurance payout to siblings
This has to be the most sympathetic assassin I've ever heard of.
According to the uncle, Yamagami's mother joined the religious group in 1991 when Yamagami was an elementary school student. When the suspect was around 4 years old, Yamagami's father took his own life, and Yamagami's brother, who was a year older, was blinded in the right eye due to a childhood cancer. Their distressed mother turned to religion. The Unification Church claims that the mother became a follower around 1998.
The uncle explained that the mother donated 20 million yen when she joined the group, and 30 million yen soon after. She also donated 10 million yen some three years later. The total 60 million yen (about $433,000) came from life insurance payments made after the death of Yamagami's father. His mother sold real estate inherited from her father in 1999, and eventually went bankrupt after making donations totaling around 100 million yen.
During this time, the uncle continued to support the family financially, but the mother would not stop donating to the Unification Church. Yamagami's brother even begged their uncle to help them as they had "nothing to eat." The mother had apparently pleaded for money many times, and the uncle said that there was a time he "splashed tea on her and turned her away."
Yamagami entered one of the best high schools in Nara Prefecture, but gave up on going to college for lack of money. He joined the MSDF the year his mother went bankrupt, and in January 2005, he tried to take his own life at age 24. He had confided in those around him that he wanted to save his brother and sister, who were stuck in poverty.
The uncle explained that the mother donated 20 million yen when she joined the group, and 30 million yen soon after. She also donated 10 million yen some three years later. The total 60 million yen (about $433,000) came from life insurance payments made after the death of Yamagami's father. His mother sold real estate inherited from her father in 1999, and eventually went bankrupt after making donations totaling around 100 million yen.
During this time, the uncle continued to support the family financially, but the mother would not stop donating to the Unification Church. Yamagami's brother even begged their uncle to help them as they had "nothing to eat." The mother had apparently pleaded for money many times, and the uncle said that there was a time he "splashed tea on her and turned her away."
Yamagami entered one of the best high schools in Nara Prefecture, but gave up on going to college for lack of money. He joined the MSDF the year his mother went bankrupt, and in January 2005, he tried to take his own life at age 24. He had confided in those around him that he wanted to save his brother and sister, who were stuck in poverty.