Abe Killing Spotlights Japanese Politicians’ Links to Religious Groups

TOKYO—At an election campaign rally outside Tokyo in June, the first dignitary to be introduced was from a sister organization of the Unification Church that advocates strengthening Japan’s military and countering the Chinese Communist Party.

Soon after, the audience heard from another man who shared those views: former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Just over a month later, Mr. Abe was shot and killed by a man police say held a grudge against an unspecified “religious group.”