A court in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, has sentenced a man who threw an explosive device near then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to 10 years in prison. The court said that by targeting an incumbent prime minister, the defendant caused anxiety among the public.



Kimura Ryuji was accused of injuring two people when he threw the explosive. The then prime minister was visiting a port in Wakayama City in April 2023 to campaign for a candidate in a Lower House by-election. Kishida was quickly evacuated from the scene, unharmed.



The 25-year-old Kimura stood trial at the Wakayama District Court on five charges, including attempted murder and Explosives Control Act violations.



Whether the defendant had intent to kill was a key point of contention.



In Wednesday's ruling, Presiding Judge Fukushima Keiko said tests by experts found the explosive to be lethal. She said Kimura threw the explosive, knowing that the then prime minister might die, and determined he was guilty of attempted murder.



The presiding judge also said the incident had a great impact on society by targeting an incumbent prime minister and causing anxiety. She noted that Kimura had filed a lawsuit against the government over Japan's election system. He had written about it on social media but received little attention. So Kimura targeted a well-known figure for publicity and the crime was premeditated, she said.



The presiding judge went on to say that the defendant needs to be severely punished to prevent similar crimes. She said it cannot be overlooked that Kimura significantly impeded the electoral system, which is the foundation of democracy.