The suspect in the attack on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida filed a lawsuit seeking damages from the government last year claiming he was unfairly blocked from running in an election, court records have shown, possibly hinting at a motive amid the ongoing investigation.
Ryuji Kimura, 24, filed the lawsuit with the Kobe District Court in June, claiming he was barred from running in the Upper House election held in early July on the basis of his age and because he was unable to provide a ¥3 million deposit.
In a brief filed with the lawsuit, Kimura touched on the state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stating that Kishida’s Cabinet had forced the decision to hold the event despite public opposition.