The man who allegedly threw an explosive device toward then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in April 2023 denied intent to kill at the first hearing of his trial at the Wakayama District Court on February 4.

Kimura Ryuji is suspected of tossing a handmade explosive at a fishing port in Wakayama, western Japan, where Kishida was about to make a stump speech in a by-election for a House of Representatives seat.

An audience member and a police officer sustained minor injuries.

Kimura has been charged on five counts, including attempted murder and violation of explosive control regulations.

The 25-year-old admitted to making and possessing explosives but said he did not intend to harm people with them.

He also denied violating the election law, saying he did not know an election was taking place at the time.

The prosecution said in opening remarks that the defendant must have known about the election as he earlier filed a civil suit over his dissatisfaction with Japan's electoral system and had checked the stump speech schedule and route to the fishing port in advance.

After five days of hearings, the ruling will be delivered on February 19.