Shinzo Abe: police say multiple handmade guns found at suspect’s house after former Japan prime minister shot and killed – latest

Local police confirm weapon used to kill former Japan prime minister was homemade gun

• Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, dies after being shot
• A loss for the world': leaders unite in condemning assassination

Japan has close to zero-tolerance" of gun ownership - an approach that experts say contributes to its extremely low rate of gun crime. There were six reported gun deaths in Japan in 2014, according to the National Police Agency, and the number rarely exceeds 10, in a country of 126 million people. In 2006, just two people were killed in gun attacks.

The 1958 law on the possession of swords and firearms states: No one shall possess a firearm or firearms or a sword or swords."

Among the few exceptions are shotguns for hunting and sport. Even then, prospective owners must attend classes and pass written and practical exams. They must then undergo psychological assessments to determine they are fit to own a firearm. Police background checks are exhaustive and even involve questioning the gun owners' relatives.

Civilian ownership of handguns is banned. The few violations reported in the media usually involve members of the country's yakuza crime syndicates. According to police, there were 21 arrests for the use of firearms in 2020, with 12 of them gang-related, Nikkei Asia reported.

Here is some further reaction from Australia.