A man accused of assassinating former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has admitted guilt as his trial opened in Tokyo.

Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, told the court that "everything is true," according to reports from local media. He is accused of using a homemade firearm to shoot Abe during a 2022 campaign event in the western city of Nara.

Abe, widely recognized for his assertive foreign policy and economic program known as “Abenomics” was hit multiple times and later died in hospital, an event that sent shockwaves across the globe.

The killing brought renewed scrutiny to the ties between Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, often referred to as the "Moonies."

Investigators said Yamagami confessed to targeting Abe because he blamed the 67-year-old for promoting the church. He claimed his mother’s deep involvement with the group had ruined their family financially. She is alleged to have donated roughly 100 million yen ($660,000) to the church as an expression of her devotion.

Public outrage over the allegations led to a government probe into the church, a religious movement founded in South Korea and famous for its mass wedding ceremonies, and resulted in the resignations of four cabinet ministers.

In March this year, a Tokyo court ordered the dissolution of the organization, stripping it of tax-exempt status and requiring it to sell off its assets.

However, Yamagami’s mother who is expected to testify has reportedly remained steadfast in her beliefs. She told media that the incident had only “made her faith stronger”.

Yamagami’s trial is expected to continue until January. While he has pleaded guilty to the killing, he denies charges related to violating Japan’s arms control laws. His defense argued, as reported by NHK, that the homemade gun he used does not meet the legal definition outlined in the statute.

Following Abe’s assassination, Japan already known for its extremely low rates of gun violence has further tightened restrictions on homemade firearms.