Abe assassination raises questions about Japan's VIP security

Police investigators arrive at the residence of the suspect who was believed to have shot former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Nara, Japan July 8, 2022 in this photo taken by Kyodo. Kyodo via REUTERS

TOKYO (Reuters) - The fatal shooting of former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe from close-range at a political rally on Friday has raised questions about protection for high-profile figures in a country where political violence and gun crimes are extremely rare.

Politicians in Japan often travel with fairly light security details compared to their peers in the United States and other countries that have higher rates of violent crime.