Revolution+1

REVOLUTION+1 Theatrical release poster Country Japan Directed by Masao Adachi Release Date 2022 (Japan) 2023 (worldwide, limited) Language Japanese Studio Loft Project Main Cast Character Actor Tatsuya Kawakami Soran Tamoto Tatsuya's Mother Satoko Iwasaki Tatsuya's Sister Ria Maesako Tatsuya's Brother Futa Muraki

Revolution+1 (stylized as REVOLUTION+1) is a 2022 Japanese semi-biographical drama film based on the life of former JMSDF officer Tetsuya Yamagami, who assassinated former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe with a homemade firearm in 2022. The film stars Soran Tamoto as Tatsuya Kawakami (a fictionalized version of Yamagami), who is serving life imprisonment for assassinating former Prime Minister Abe. The film recounts his past through flashbacks as it examines his life and motivations for assassinating Abe. The film was directed by former Japanese Red Army member and filmmaker Masao Adachi and began being filmed at the end of August 2022, almost two months after Abe was assassinated.

A special unfinished cut of the film was released to select Japanese theaters in September 2022, on the week of Abe's official state funeral. Multiple theaters cancelled their screenings of the unfinished cut, citing multiple reasons for doing so such as claiming that the film glorifies terrorism. The film's director has refuted these accusations, claiming that the film is intended to be an unbiased examination of Yamagami's life and mental health (though he has gone on record to express his support of Yamagami and his distaste for Abe's political career). The final, full version of the film premiered in December of the same year, with limited international screenings following in 2023.

The following weapons were used in the film Revolution+1:

Assault Rifles

AKM

A friend of Tatsuya's father (Tomoki Kimura) is seen firing an AKM in a flashback to their participation in the Lod Airport massacre. This is historically inaccurate, as the Lod Airport shooters used stockless Sa vz. 58s instead of the full-stocked AKM depicted in the film.

AKM - 7.62x39mm

The friend of Tatsuya's father (Tomoki Kimura) unloads his AKM on the civilians and staff at Lod Airport.

Howa Type 89

In a flashback to his JMSDF service, Tatsuya Kawakami (Soran Tamoto) can be seen firing a Howa Type 89.

Howa Type 89 with integral bipod - 5.56x45mm

Tatsuya Kawakami (Soran Tamoto) fires a Type 89 in a flashback to his navy service. Note that Kawakami is wearing the U.S. Woodland camo pattern, which was only used by USFJ troops before the ACU was adopted. He should be using the JMSDF's digital blue uniform. He's also wearing the Type 2 pattern helmet cover for his Type 88 helmet incorrectly.

Others

Zip Gun

Tatsuya Kawakami (Soran Tamoto) uses a Zip Gun to fatally wound former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. The prop firearm used in the film is modeled after the actual zip gun that Tetsuya Yamagami created and used.

Schematic of the zip gun used by Tetsuya Yamagami to kill former Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Image courtesy of Reuters.

News image of Yamagami being apprehended by one of Shinzo Abe's bodyguards right after the shooting. He can be seen dropping the zip gun.

The zip gun on the sidewalk in the film's opening scene.

Tatsuya makes adjustments to the zip gun.

Tatsuya aims the gun at a picture of Unification Church founder Sun Myung Moon as well as his widow and current sitting leader of the Church Hak Ja Han.

Tatsuya (Soran Tamoto) smoothens the gun's PVC pipe barrels with a soldering gun.

A close-up of the gun's barrels.

Tatsuya practices his aim on a picture of his mother.

Two copies of the completed zip gun on top of an unfolded cardboard box.

"I think you should hold it between your arm and your side."
A hallucination of Tatsuya's brother guides him on how to aim the gun.

Tatsuya aims the gun at Shinzo Abe on the day of the shooting. This shot is correctly depicted to have missed Abe entirely, prompting the former Prime Minister to turn around.

After readjusting his shooting stance, Tatsuya aims the second (fatal) shot at Abe.

Behind-the-scenes image of Soran Tamoto, Futa Muraki and director Masao Adachi with multiple copies of the gun.

Promotional image of Soran Tamoto aiming the completed gun. Pictures of Sun Myung Moon and Hak Ja Han are visible on the walls behind him. Pictures of former Japanese Prime Minister and maternal grandfather of Shinzo Abe, Nobusuke Kishi are also visible (a picture of a young Abe with Kishi can be seen).

Promotional image of Soran Tamoto aiming the gun.