Japan:
new world leader
in executions?
December 2006~January 2009
32
hangings in 25 months
2008 Death Penalty Report
Executions:
15
Highest Total in 33 years (Since 1975)
Statistics for
2008
Who's on Death
Row?
Welcome to the
Japan Death Penalty
Information Center
Michael H. Fox
Director
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Death Sentences
Supreme Court = 3
High Courts = 4
District Courts = 5
Total = 12
Hangman
Cheated
Demands for death denied: 2
Constitution
Violated
Life Imprisonment Overturned
Death Sentence Issued:
= 2
Recent News
✽April
2009✽
Masumi
Hayashi's sentence finalized by the high court.
Tried and found guilty by the media, the case rests
on circumstantial evidence, and a "lack of
motive." (More)
Death row inmate's tell-all blog opens
debate (More )
Executed for
crimes while a teenager-Nagayama legacy continues
to influence society. (More
)
19 year old
given life imprisonment in Aomori for
filicide. ( More
)
Hangman Cheated: Hatakeyama given life. (
More
)
Japanese man
given death sentence for killing acquaintance in
Thailand ( More
)
Alberto Stucki- His continuing quest to add Life
without Parole (LWOP) to Japan's Criminal Code.
(More
)
✽March
2009✽
Life Imprisonment Overturned-Death Sentence Issued.
(
More
)
2 sentenced to death, 1 to life imprisonment over
2007 murder of Nagoya woman (More)
✽February
2009✽
Top court to
hold deliberations on life or death for Peruvian
man. (More)
U.S.
expert urges life without parole will change public
opinion. (
More
)
Hangman cheated again, Hoshijima gets life
imprisonment. (More)
New Book about the death penalty in Asia:
The Next
Frontier:National Development, Political Change,
and the Death Penalty in Asia
by David T.
Johnson and Frank Zimring.
Yagi Shigeu,
claiming
innocence, files petition for
retrial.
✽January
2009✽
Year's first hangings. 4
inmates executed on Thursday, January
29
Have
the prosecution become kill happy? Death penalty
sought for 3 'crime-mates' charged with a single
murder. ( More
)
Courts
cheat hangman for 3rd time in 5 weeks. Multiple
murderer sentenced to life imprisonment. (
Read
)
✽December
2008✽
Hangman cheated again. Police shooter given Life.
(
Read
)
Hangman cheated. Life given for Kobe arson attacks.
(
Read
)
Life Imprisonment Case sent back to District Court.
High Court thinks that Peruvian should hang?
Victim's family had accepted life
imprisonment.(
Read
)
✽November
2008✽
Bar Federation opposes life without parole. 30+
year sentences for Life Imprisonment are more than
enough. (
Read
)
Death
row inmate, lawyers seek state
compensation
Bar
Federation opposes life without parole. 30+ year
sentences for Life Imprisonment are more than
enough. (
Read
)
Death
row inmate, lawyers seek state
compensationment
are more than enough. (
Read
)
Death
row inmate, lawyers seek state
compensation
✽October
2008✽
Two More Hangings
raises year's totals to 15, the highest total in
33 years since (1975)!
Even CNN takes Note! (
Read
)
U.N. raps Japan's death
penalty& police detention
system
Former Dallas Prosecutor: “I don't think the
system can prove who is guilty and who is
innocent,
First Woman of 2008
Sentenced to Death
Protest in Front of
Japanese Embassy
Death Penalty Sought for
Single Murder
At least 42
death-row inmates seeking
retrial
Court Asserts Inmates
Rights to receive letters and
funds
Survey of Death Row
Inmates Released
Former Warden of San
Quentin Prison criticizes death penalty as
expensive and ineffective.