Man surprised by lack of security for Japanese Prime Minister

On Saturday, an attempted attack on Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shocked a small fishing town in Japan. The incident occurred during a campaign event where Kishida was making a speech, and a man threw an object towards the prime minister. Luckily, Kishida was unharmed, but the incident has sparked concern about the lack of security measures in place to protect public figures in Japan.

The fishermen who witnessed the attack were surprised by the lack of security provided for Kishida. Tsutomu Konishi, a fisherman who was present at the event, said that a security officer covered the object with a bulletproof briefcase, and the fishermen quickly tackled the attacker. Konishi said, “I never thought a crime like this would happen in my hometown, which is a rather small fishing area. I’m still shocked and stunned.”

Masaki Nishide, another fisherman who witnessed the event, said that most people at the campaign event were residents and supporters of the local candidate, and the man carrying the backpack stood out. Nishide also added that if he were in charge of security, he would have asked for a bag check.

After the attack, one of the fishermen grabbed the suspect’s neck from behind, another pushed his head down, and Konishi latched onto his leg. The suspect was then held by the fishermen until police officers arrived and pulled him to the ground.

The incident has reminded people of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nine months ago, which revealed flaws in the country’s security measures. Abe was killed by a homemade gun during a campaign speech, prompting police to tighten their protective measures.

The suspect in the recent attack, Tetsuya Yamagami, has been charged with murder and violating gun-control laws. Authorities say that Yamagami killed Abe due to his apparent links to a religious group that Yamagami hated, and his mother’s donations to the group. Japan has strict gun control laws, and violent crimes are rare in the country.

The attack has also raised questions about the handling of election campaigns in Japan. Guarding top politicians in campaigns is logistically difficult, and balancing tight security with a free election is also challenging, according to public safety expert Isao Itabashi. Itabashi said that the attack has exposed the need for improved security measures for public figures in Japan.

Overall, the attempted attack on Kishida has shaken the small fishing town and raised concerns about the lack of security measures in place for public figures in Japan. While violent crimes are rare in the country, the incident has highlighted the need for better protective measures for political leaders during public events.