Photo/Illutration Ryuji Kimura is taken to the Wakayama District Public Prosecutors Office on April 17, 2023. (Jun Ueda)

WAKAYAMA–Prosecutors demanded a 15-year sentence for a man accused of lobbing an explosive device at then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a campaign speech as his trial concluded here on Feb. 10. 

Ryuji Kimura, 25, faces five charges, including attempted murder and violation of the Public Offices Election Law.

The prosecutors argued that the attack, which targeted numerous people including the prime minister, was a terrorist act that threatened the very foundations of democracy.

The defense argued that Kimura did not intend to kill anyone and that the appropriate charge was assault, recommending a three-year sentence.

The Wakayama District Court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on Feb. 19.

According to the indictment, Kimura threw a homemade bomb at Kishida on April 15, 2023, at a campaign rally at the city’s Saikazaki fishing port, where approximately 200 people had gathered.

It took nearly a minute before the device detonated. Kishida was unharmed, but a member of the public and a police officer sustained minor injuries.

During his first court hearing on Feb. 4, Kimura claimed he was unaware of any election taking place, denying the accusation of violating the election law.

However, the defense ultimately acknowledged the charge in the final court session. This shifted the focus of the trial to determining whether Kimura intended to kill and whether he used the explosive device with the aim of injuring others.

Prior to the incident, Kimura sued the state, expressing dissatisfaction with the election system. He eventually lost the lawsuit.

Kimura explained that his motive for tossing the explosive device was to create a loud noise near a celebrity, such as the prime minister, in hopes of attracting media attention to his lawsuit against the state.

“I felt I had no choice but to do this to gain attention,” Kimura said.

During the closing arguments on Feb. 10, the prosecutors cited expert testimony to assert that the explosive device had the potential to kill or injure.

They contended that Kimura was fully aware of the bomb's danger, having tested it beforehand. By throwing it into a crowded venue, he demonstrated his intent to kill or harm others, they argued. 

They also criticized his motive, claiming he resorted to violence because he was not getting attention with his lawsuit, which they described as selfish and short-sighted.

The defense countered that there was not enough evidence to disprove Kimura's statement that he believed the explosive device would detonate upward, posing little danger to the crowd.

They argued that he detonated the explosive to cause a commotion and attract attention, but did not intend to harm anyone.

(This article was written by Shinichi Kawarada and Issei Yamamoto.)

Related News