After the Serious Incident] Kimura’s father made a shocking statement in response to a direct interview with this magazine: “Ryuji didn’t hurt anyone.
Year-end Special Report
The fishermen immediately seized him and said, “We have nothing to say to you. Go home!”
The man yelling at the FRIDAY reporter was the father of Ryuji Kimura, 24, who was arrested for attempted murder. On April 15, 2011, Kimura threw an explosive device at the fishing port of Saikazaki in Wakayama Prefecture and attacked Prime Minister Fumio Kishida before his speech. He was subsequently indicted on five counts.
After his arrest, he underwent a three-month psychiatric evaluation and was found to be responsible, leading to his indictment. However, he has remained silent during interrogations to this day.
In early December, we again contacted Kimura’s father, who commented that his son was the same as Tetsuya Yamagami, who was accused of murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and defended him.
He said, “I’m telling you, Ryuji didn’t hurt anyone. I told this to the Wakayama Prefectural Police. （The person who half-killed him and Ryuji are both guilty of attempted murder. I said, “Think about it,” out of a sense of parental love.
What drove Kimura to commit the murder? The investigation will continue.
From the January 5 and 12, 2024 issues of FRIDAY
