Japan’s Police Boss Steps Down After Abe’s Tragic Assassination
TL;DR: The National Police Agency chief and a Nara police commander have quit in the wake of a botched security operation that led to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s death. It’s a clear call for a new security strategy—fingers crossed it’s actually better this time.
Why the resignations?
- Hey, when the first shot missed, there were just 2.5 seconds before the fatal second one. Evidence suggests bodyguards could have moved or pulled Abe away—yet they didn’t. That’s a huge gaffe.
- Security experts slammed the plan as “seriously flawed.” One must say: guarding a former PM on a campaign rally is no small task. A misstep can be deadly.
- In a bid for a “fresh start,” the chief of the National Police Agency, Itaru Nakamura, announced his departure following an internal review that exposed the chinks in the security armor.
- On the local front, Tomoaki Onizuka, head of Nara police, also bowed out, acknowledging his role in the chain of failures.
What’s the plan going forward?
The agency is on a mission to rebuild. They’ve set up a specialized review team—a sort of “security detectives” squad—to scour procedures, identify blind spots, and devise a more solid protection framework. This team is expected to produce a comprehensive preventative roadmap before the next election cycle.
Deputies on the case
- Suspected shooter arrested on the spot. He’s currently undergoing psychiatric evaluation.
- Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other officials are openly admitting the security missteps, pointing fingers at the police’s failure to protect the former PM.
Hooked? Stay tuned.
Time will tell if Japan’s revamped security standards will stand up to scrutiny. For now, the resignations speak loud and clear: no one is above the law—especially when it comes to safeguarding a nation’s leaders.
