"Feeling Great Responsibility for Abe's Assassination"… Japanese National Police Agency Chief Offers Resignation

Investigation Reveals Lax Security System

Nakamura Tadashi, Commissioner of the Japanese National Police Agency. [Image source=NHK news screen capture]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Nakamura Tadashi, Japan's Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, announced the investigation results on the security lapses in the assassination of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on the 25th and expressed his intention to resign. Facing criticism for inadequate security that failed to prevent the incident, he appears to be taking moral responsibility and stepping down from his position.

According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Commissioner Nakamura reported the security issue verification results to the National Public Safety Commission on the same day and held a press conference to announce his resignation.

He stated, "We must review the security methods and implement a new system to ensure that such an incident never happens again," adding, "I believe the responsibility as commissioner is very great."

Commissioner Nakamura expressed that he feels a heavy responsibility as the person overseeing and supervising the prefectural police forces after suspicions arose that security was inadequate on the day former Prime Minister Abe was shot and killed during an election campaign speech in Nara City, Nara Prefecture last month.

Japanese media reported that Nakamura's resignation is effectively a 'resignation to take responsibility.' The security verification results released prior to his resignation revealed that the security system was indeed lax.

According to the verification results, on-site commanders changed the deployment direction of police officers just before the speech but failed to compensate for the vacant positions with other personnel. As a result, they did not notice the suspect approaching former Prime Minister Abe from behind.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the Nara Prefectural Police Headquarters had complacently and formally followed previous security methods, and during the approval process up to the headquarters chief, the necessity for rear security was not properly reviewed.

In response, the National Police Agency announced plans to require prefectural police headquarters to report their security plans to the agency when preparing security arrangements for the sitting prime minister in the future. Additionally, according to NHK reports, when protecting key figures at outdoor events with large crowds such as election campaigns, the use of drones and bulletproof glass is being considered.

Meanwhile, Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported that Nakamura's resignation is expected to be decided at the Cabinet meeting on the 26th. He took office as commissioner last September and has held various positions since joining the National Police Agency in 1986, including Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department's Investigation Division 2, Chief of the Criminal Affairs Department, and Director of the Organized Crime Countermeasures Department. From 2009, he served as a secretary to the Chief Cabinet Secretary for five and a half years.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.