The Japan Innocence and Death Penalty Information Center (jiadep.org)
LIST OF DEFENDANTS WHO ARE UNDER
SENTENCE OF DEATH IN JAPAN
(Note: "shikei" means 'death penalty' in the Japanese language)
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|
Jurisdiction |
CURRENT Number SENTENCED TO DEATH |
Statistics |
Originally sentenced to life imprisonment |
|
COURT |
108 |
Women = 7 ~~~~~~ Non-Japanese =6 (Chinese=5 Malaysian=1) (all men) ~~~~ Minor at time of crime = 5 ~~~ Retrials Filed = 58 |
10 |
|
HIGH COURTS |
3 |
Women= 0 Non-Japanese= 0 Minor at time of crime = 0 |
0 |
|
DISTRICT COURTS |
4 |
Women= 0 Non-Japanese= 0 Minor at time of crime = 0 |
X |
|
TOTALS |
115 |
Women = 7 Non-japanese= 6 Minor at time of crime = 5 |
10 |
|
Death Row: Metrics |
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AGES: 90+ years = 1 80+ years = 4 70~79 years = 25 Total Aged 70+ = 26% ===== Japan Federation of Bar Associations' Human Rights Committee: Verified Cases of Innocence = 5 cases. ~~~~~ |
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Name (Last/First) F=female Place of Detention Chronology: Dates & Court ///////////////// Retrial Status |
Case Name Date of Incident Accused's D.O.B. (if known) |
Notes |
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Oda Nobuo 尾田信夫 b. 1946 age: 74 Fukuoka 1970/11/12 S.C. 1970/03/20 Fukuoka H.C 1968/12/24 Fukuoka D.C. /////////////////////// 1998/10/29 Supreme Court (Request for retrial denied.) |
マルヨ無線事件 Maruyo Musen Case (Murder/Arson/Robbery Kawabata-Cho Case 川端町事件 1966/12/05 |
Aged 20 at time of crime. Denies the charges of arson as a cause of death. In its 1998 decision, the S.C. noted that part of the charges may be appealed. Confirmed as a miscarriage of justice by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. ( More ) Update: (Feb ‘23) prosecution acknowledge that evidence has been hidden More |
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Ohama Shosan 大濱松三 born 1928 age=94 Tokyo 1977/04/16 Withdraws appeal 1975/10/20 Yokohama DC Odawara Branch |
Piano Noise Murder Case 1974/08/28 ピアノ騒音殺人事件 |
Mental competence is in dispute. Psychiatrist suggested a lesser sentence. Defendant withdrew appeal and death sentence was finalized. |
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Hakamada Iwao 袴田巌 b. 1936 age= 84 Tokyo Paroled 2014/March ~~~~~ 1980/11/19 SC 1976/05/18 Tokyo HC 1968/09/11 Shizuoka DC |
Hakamada Case 袴田事件 Stabbing murder of a family of four & arson 1966/06/30 |
Insists on innocence. Cause celebre among wrongful arrests in Japan. Former ranked professional boxer. Strongly supported by many groups, and the subject of many publications and documentaries. Listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Confirmed as a miscarriage of justice by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. ( More ) Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Masunaga Toshiaki 益永利明 b. 1948/06/01 age=75 Tokyo 2006/11/25 Retrial Rejected (Tokyo DC) /////////// 1987/03/24 SC 1982/10/29 Tokyo HC 1979/11/12 Tokyo DC. |
Various Building Bombings 連続企業爆発事件 1971/12--75/05 |
Original family name was Kataoka. Insists the charge of "complicity" is supra-judicial and wants to be extradited abroad. Has support newsletter entitled "Gomashio Tsuushin." Codefendant with M. Daidoji who died in prison in 2017. |
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Watanabe Kiyoshi 渡辺清 b. 1948/03/17 age =75 Osaka 1988/06/02 SC 1978/05/30 Osaka HC Death 1975/08/29 Osaka DC L I. |
Four Murders ４件殺人事件 1967/04/24--73/03 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Minor: Age 19 at time of first offense. Refutes two of the charges. Has filed fifth request for retrial. |
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Fujii Masayasu 藤井政安 b. 1942/02/23 age 80 Tokyo 1989/10/13 SC 1982/07/01 Tokyo HC 1977/03/31 Tokyo DC |
Koroshiya Multiple Murders 「殺し屋」連続 殺人事件 1970/10--73/04 |
Original family name was Sekiguchi. Retrial request underway. |
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Kanekawa Hajime 金川一 b. 1950/07/07 age=72 Fukuoka 1990/04/03 SC 1983/03/17 Fukuoka HC Death 1982/06/14 Kumamoto DC Hachiyo Branch Life Imprisonment Retrial request underway |
Housewife Murder 主婦殺人事件 1979/09/11 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Denies the charges. Has support association and personal publication entitled "Tanabata Newsletter." Was convicted of murder in 1969 and released from prison in 1979. This case occurred three months later and lacks any direct evidence. Defendant Insists he is a scapegoat and not the perpetrator. Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Sasaki Tetsuya 佐々木哲也 b. 1953 age 69 Tokyo 1992/01/31 SC 1986/08/29 Tokyo HC 1984/03/15 Chiba DC |
Parent Killing Case 両親殺人事件 1974/10/30 |
Insists upon innocence. Publishes a support newsletter: "Itsuka jiketo no shita de." Retrial request underway. Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Sakaguchi Hiroshi 坂口弘 b. 1946/11/12 age= 76 Tokyo 2012/06/27 Retrial Rejected SC ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1993/02/19 SC 1986/09/26 Tokyo HC 1982/06/18 Tokyo DC |
Red Army Activities 連合赤軍事件 1971--72/02 |
Considers the charge of complicity to be extra-judicial and has requested extradition abroad. Author of "Asama Sanso 1972," and other works. ( More ) |
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大森勝久 b. 1949 age=73 Sapporo 2007/03/19 Retrial Rejected Sapporo DC /////////// 1994/07/15 SC 1988/01/21 Sapporo HC 1983/03/29 Sapporo DC |
Hokkaido Govt Building Bombing 北海道庁爆破事件 1976/03/02 |
Insists upon innocence. Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Inokuma Takeo 猪熊武夫 b. 1949.07.02 age=73 Tokyo 1995/06/08 SC 1988/12/15 Tokyo HC 1987/07/06 Tokyo DC |
Lake Yamanaka Multiple Murders 山中湖連続殺人事件 1984/10/11&25 |
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Yamano Seijiro 山野静二郎 b. 1938/07/13 age=84 Osaka 1996/10/ 25 SC 1989/10/11 Osaka HC 1985/07/22 Osaka DC Retrial request underway |
Real Estate Co. Multiple Murders 不動産会社 連続殺人事件 1982.03 |
Insists both deaths were made in self-defense. Has English and French support sites. Author of two books "Prayer from Death Row" and "Scream from Death Row." Has support newsletter entitled "Olive Tsuushin" |
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Ogoshi Hideaki 大越英明 b. 1942/03/10 age: 82 (Original family name was Akiyoshi.) Fukuoka 1997/09/11 SC 1991/12/09 Fukuoka HC 1985/05/31 Fukuoka DC (Izuka Branch) |
Common Law Wife's Family Quadruple Murder 内妻一家４人 殺人事件 1976/06/13 |
Insists that his common law wife murdered three of the victims. Book about the case's disparities include "Akiyoshi Jiken." Retrial request underway |
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Kamimiya Masaharu 神宮雅晴 age=80 (Previous family name was Hirota.) Osaka 1997/12/19 SC 1993/04/30 Osaka HC 1988/10/ 25 Osaka DC |
Robbery/Murder of an ex-police officer 元警官強盗殺人事件 1984.09.04 |
Insists on innocence. Retrial request underway |
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Fujinami Tomoko (F) 藤波知子 b. 1945 age = 78 (Previous family name was Miyazaki.) Nagoya 2007/03/24 Toyama DC Retrial Request Dismissed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 1998/09/04 SC 1992/03/31 Nagoya HC 1988/02/09 Toyama DC |
Toyama Nagano Double Women Murder 富山長野2女性 殺人事件 1980.02.23 & 1980.03.06 |
A male accomplice first admitted guilt but later recanted, and was found not guilty. Insists the real culprit is someone else. |
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Shibasaki Masakazu 柴嵜正一 Tokyo 1998/09/04 SC 1992/03/31 Nagoya HC 1988/02/09 Toyama DC |
Nakamurabashi Police Officer Double Murder 中村橋派出所２警官 殺人事件 1989/05/16 |
Retrial request underway |
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Muramatsu Sei-ichiro 村松誠一郎 b. 1956/05/17 Tokyo 1998/10/08 SC 1992/06/29 Tokyo HC 1985/09/26 Urawa DC |
Miyadai Case & others 宮代事件等 1980/03/21 |
Insists upon innocence in the Miyadai Case. Retrial request underway. Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Matsumoto Misao 松本美佐雄 b. 1965/02/20 Tokyo 1998/12/01 SC 1994/09/29 Tokyo HC 1993/08/24 Maebashi DC (Takasaki Branch) |
Two Murders & Injuries Resulting in Death ２人殺人１人傷害致死 死体遺棄事件 1990.12/1991.07 |
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Matsumoto Kenji 松本健次 age=72 Osaka 2000/04/04 SC 1996/02/21 Osaka HC 1993/09/17 Otsu DC |
Double Murder & Robbery Case ２件強盗殺人事件 1990.09.19 & 1991.09 |
Was born with Minamata disease and is mentally retarded. His brother, assumed to be the main criminal, later committed suicide. Request for retrial filed. |
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Chen Daiwei 陳代偉 Tokyo 2002/06/11 SC 1998/01/29 Tokyo HC 1995/12/15 Tokyo DC |
Pachinko Shop Robbery Murder Case パチンコ店強盗 殺人事件 1992/05/30 |
Chinese citizen. First non-permanent resident sentenced to death in post war period. Alleges the ringleader escaped overseas. Claims torture lead to confession and that interpretation was insufficient. Has newsletter "Ichijo no Hikari." |
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He Li 何 力 Identical to Chen above |
Co-defendant with Chen above. |
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Yokota Kenji 横田謙二 age= 71 Tokyo 2002/10/05 Withdraws Appeal 2002/09/30 Tokyo HC: Death 2001/06/28 Saitama DC Life Imprisonment |
Female Acquaintance Murders 知人女性殺人事件 1999/01/09 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Crime committed while on parole from a life sentence. Sentence confirmed after appeal is abandoned by defendant. |
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Won I-san (Malaysian) 黄奕善 Tokyo 2004/04/19 SC 1998/03/26 Tokyo HC 1996/07/19 Tokyo DC |
Double Robbery & Murder Case 連続強盗殺人事件 1993/10/27 1993/12.20 |
Malaysian Citizen. Assumed ringleader and alleged accomplice Yamashita is appealing to Supreme Court. Denies complicity in murder and robbery. Medical treatment during trial was problematic. |
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Kurayoshi Masataka 倉吉政隆 Fukuoka 2004/12/02 SC 2000/06/29 Fukuoka HC 1999/03/25 Fukuoka DC |
Man and Woman Double Murder 男女殺人事件 1995/04 |
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Morimoto Nobuyuki 森本信之 (Previous name was Sawamoto.) Nagoya 2004/12/14 SC 2001/05/14 Nagoya HC 2000/03/01 Tsu DC |
Filipina Double Murder Case フィリピン２人 女性殺人事件 1998/12 |
Of the two accomplices, one died during proceedings, the other's sentence was reduced to life by the high court. |
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Manaka Hiromi 間中博巳 Tokyo 2005/01/27 SC 2001/05/01 Tokyo DC 1994/07/06 Miyabe DC |
Classmate Double Murders 同級生２人殺人事件 1989/08--09 |
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Shimoyama Shinichi 下山信一 (Original name was Matsuzawa) Tokyo 2005/09/16 SC 2001/05/30 Tokyo HC 1998/05/26 Tokyo DC |
Financial Co. Triple Murders 金融業者ら３人 殺人事件 1993/10/12 |
Codefendant with Won I-san above. Insists the crime was not planned. |
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Horie Yoshio 堀江守男 age 70 Sendai 2005/09/26 SC 2005/09/26 Sendai DC 1991/03/29 Sendai HC |
Elderly Couple Murder Case 老夫婦殺人事件 1986/02/20 |
Defendant's psychological condition is in dispute |
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Ueda Yoshinori 上田宜範 Osaka 2005/12/15 SC 2001/03/15 Osaka HC 1998/03/20 Osaka DC |
Osaka Dog Lover's Multiple Murder Case (x5) 大阪愛犬家 連続殺人事件 １９９２〜９３ |
Maintains innocence. Insists confessions were the result of police violence. Filed for retrial in 2011. |
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Tanaka Atsuhiko 田中 敦彦 （Previous name was Hisahori） Osaka 2006/02/14 SC 2001/12/25 Osaka HC 2000/03/16 Osaka DC L.I. |
Murder of 2 Right Wing Leaders 右翼幹部ら２人 殺人事件 1992/02 ~94/04 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Filed for retrial in 2013. |
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Yamaguchi Morio 山口益生 age 71 Nagoya 2006/02/24 SC: Death 2001/06/14 Nagoya HC: Death 1999/06/23 Tsu DC Life Imp 1997/09/25 Nagoya HC: Death sentence overturned, case is remanded to DC 1997/03/28 Tsu DC Death (Yokkaichi Branch) |
Murder of an accomplice in one heist, murder of an antique art dealer in another. 古美術商ら２人 殺人事件 1994/03--95/03 |
Death sentence overturned by high court, later reinstated. Accomplice died of illness during the trial. |
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豊田 義己 b. 1943 Age=80 (Previous name was Toyoda) Nagoya 2006/03/02 SC 2002/02/28 Nagoya HC 2000/07/19 Nagoya DC |
Murder of 2 Women in Shizuoka & Aichi Areas 静岡、愛知２女性殺人事件 1996.08~97.09 |
Denies the Shizuoka Case. Claims confession made after police violence. |
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Eto Tsune 江東恒 b. 1942/07/21 age = 81 Osaka 2006/09/07 SC 2003/01/02 Osaka HC 2001/03/22 Osaka DC Sakai Branch |
Sakai Husband Wife Murder Case 堺夫婦殺人事件 1997/10/30 |
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Ishikawa Keiko(F) 石川恵子 b. 1959 Fukuoka 2006/09/21 SC 2003/03/27 Fukuoka HC Miyazaki Branch 2001/06/20 Miyazaki DC |
Miyazaki Double Women Murder 宮崎２女性 殺人事件 1996/08 & 97/06 |
Denies the charges, has plead innocent. |
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Naga Katsuhisa 長勝久 Tokyo 2006/10/12 SC 2003/09/10 Tokyo HC 2001/12/18 Utsunomiya DC |
Tochigi Wife & Acquaintance Murder 栃木・妻と知人殺人事件 1988~89 |
Denies the charges, has plead innocent. Has filed a third appeal in 2011. |
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Matsumoto Kazuhiro 松本和弘 Nagoya 2007/01/30 SC 2003/07/08 Nagoya HC 2002/01/30 Nagoya DC Ichinomiya Branch |
Manila Murder for Insurance & Nagano Murder Case マニラ連続保険金殺人・長野殺人事件 1994~96 |
Co-defendant and twin brother Akihiro died in January, 2016. Third codefendant Shimoura Eichi is listed below. |
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Shimoura Eiichi 下浦栄一 Nagoya 2007/01/30 SC 2003/07/08 Nagoya HC 2002/01/30 Nagoya DC |
Manila Murder for Insurance & Nagano Murder Case マニラ連続保険金 殺人・長野殺人事件 1994~96 |
Same as above. |
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Nishiyama Shouzou 西山省三 b. 1953 Hiroshima 2007/04/10 SC 2004/04/23 Hiroshima HC Death 1999/12/10 SC Grants prosecutors appeal, remands to HC 1997/02/04 Hiroshima HC LI 1994/09/30 Hiroshima DC LI |
Murder of an Elderly Woman 老女殺人事件 1992/03/29 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Crime committed while on parole from life imprisonment. Death sentence imposed after prosecutorial appeal to the Supreme Court. Only the second postwar case of the SC imposing a sentence of death from L.I. Awarded $60,000 in 2012: Jail staff refused to let lawyers speak in private. |
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Zohta Hiroshi 造田博 b. 1978 Tokyo 2007/04/19 SC 2003/09/29 Tokyo HC 2002/01/18 Tokyo DC |
Tokyo/Ikebukuro Random Murder Case 東京・池袋「通り魔」殺傷事件 1999/09/08 |
Two people were killed and six injured in an unplanned random murder. Defense claims insanity. |
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中原澄夫 b. 1947 age=76 Fukuoka 2007/06/12 SC 2005/04/12 Fukuoka HC 2003/05/01 Fukuoka DC |
Yakuza Dispute Multiple Murders 暴力団抗争連続殺人事件 1997/10/06~10/13 |
Charged with ordering others to commit two murders. Denies the charges. [ More ] |
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薛 松 b. 1974 (Jap: Setsu Shou) Tokyo 2007/06/20 SC 2004/01/23 Tokyo HC 2002/02/22 Tokyo DC |
Kasugabe Chinese Couple Murder 春日部中国人夫婦 殺人事件 2000/09/22 |
Chinese national. Insists mistakes made at trial and that sentence is unjust. [ More ] |
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浜川邦彦 b. 1960 Nagoya 2007/07/05 SC 2004/03/22 Nagoya HC 2002/12/18 Tsu DC |
Mie Double Shooting Case 三重男性２人射殺事件 1994/07 & 1994/11 |
Denies the charges. Co-defendant received life sentence (prosecution demanded death.) |
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後藤良次 Tokyo 2007/09/28 SC 2004/07/06 Tokyo HC 2003/02/24 Utsunomiya DC |
Utsunomiya Miyabe Murders 宇都宮水戸殺人事件 2000/07/30~08/20 |
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Hokao Kazuo 外尾 計夫 b. 1947 age 75 Fukuoka 2008/01/31 SC 2004/05/21 Fukuoka HC 2003/01/31 Nagasaki DC |
Father & Child Murder for Insurance Case 父子保険金殺人事件 1992/09/11 1998/10/27 |
Codefendant (wife and mother of victims) was sentenced to death in first trial, later reduced to life imprisonment by the high court. [ More ] |
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Hasegawa Shizuo 長谷川静央 b. 1942 age 81 Tokyo 2008/03/17 SC 2007/08/16 Tokyo HC 2007/01/23 Utsunomiya DC |
Younger Brother Murder for Hire 宇都宮実弟殺害事件 2005/05/08 |
Accused of paying a hitman to kill his younger brother while on parole from L.I.
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加賀聖商 Tokyo 2008/06/05 SC 2005/07/19 Tokyo HC 2004/02/04 Yokohama DC |
Kanagawa Mother-Daughter Murder 神奈川母子殺人事件 2001/08/04 b. 1961/04/30 |
[ More ] |
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八木茂 born 1952 age=71 Tokyo 2008/07/17 SC 2005/01/13 Tokyo HC 2002/10/01 Saitama DC |
Saitama Insurance Murders(x2) & Attempted Murder 1) 埼玉保険金 殺人(２件) 2) 同未遂事件（１件） 1995/06/03 & 1999/05/29 |
Insists upon innocence. Authored a book about the case entitled "Itsuwari no Kioku (Memory of a Lie.)" Three female accomplices received sentences of 12 years to life. ( More ) In 2020, awarded 2,250,000 yen ($20,000) in a civil suit against the Tokyo Detention Center which limited lawyer meetings to 30 minutes. |
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林真須美 b. 1961/07/22 Osaka 2009/04/21 SC 2005/06/28 Osaka HC 2002/12/11 Wakayama DC |
Wakayama Curry Case Murders (x4) 1998/07/25 |
Insists upon innocence. Case based upon circumstantial evidence. Has support association and publishes a newsletter entitled "Aozora Tsuushin." 2021/06/20 New appeal filed. Currently being defended by a former judge. Read Hayashi's letter to Michael Fox [ Read ] |
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Kazama Hiroko(F) 風間博子 Tokyo 2009/06/05 SC 2005/07/11 Tokyo HC 2001/03/21 Urawa DC |
Saitama Dog Lover's Multiple (x4) Murders Case 埼玉愛犬家連続殺人事件 1993 |
Codefendant with Sekine Hajime who was sentenced to death and later died in prison. Denies participation in the murder. |
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Takahashi Suguru 高橋秀 (Previous name was Ishikawa) Sendai 2009/06/23 SC 2005/07/26 Sendai HC 2004/03/25 Sendai DC |
賃金業者ら２人 殺人事件 Money Lending Double Murders 2001/01/09~ 02/03 |
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小日向将人 Tokyo 2009/ 07/10 SC 2006/03/16 Tokyo HC 2005/03/28 Maebashi DC |
前橋スナック乱射事件 Maebashi Night Club Shooting Case 2003/01/25 |
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窪田勇次 born 1945 age = 78 Sapporo 2009/12/04 SC 2005/12/01 HC 2004/03/02 DC |
Hokkaido Kitami City Double Elderly Murder 北海道北見市の資産家夫婦殺害事件 1988/Oct |
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Suga Mineo 菅峰男 b. 1951 age=72 Fukuoka 2009/12/11 SC 2006/05/24 Fukuoka HC 2004/03/11 Fukuoka DC |
Fukuoka Shohnai Multiple Murders 福岡庄内連続殺人事件 1996/06/08~11/19 |
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Ohashi Kenji 大橋健治 b. 1941 age = 82 Osaka 2010/01/29 SC 2007/04/27 Osaka HC 2006/11/02 Osaka DC |
Double Women Robbery Murders 2005/04~05 |
Aged 64 at time of the crime. |
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Takao Yasushi 高尾康司 b. 1964 Tokyo 2010/09/16 SC 2006/09/28 Tokyo HC 2005/02/21 Chiba DC |
Tateyama City Arson Murders (x4) 千葉館山連続放火事件 2003/12/18 |
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藤崎宗司 b. 1961 Tokyo 2010/10/14 SC 2006/12/22 Tokyo HC 2005/12/22 Mito DC |
Elderly Women Strangulations(x2) 2005/01/21~28 |
Recognized as mentally disabled. |
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尾崎政芳 (Previous name was Takemoto) Fukuoka 2010/11/08 SC 2007/01/16 Fukuoka HC 2005/05/16 Fukuoka DC Kokura Branch |
Kaedama Insurance Murders 替え玉保険金等 殺人事件 2002/01/08~31 |
( More ) |
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Hara Tadashi 原正志 (Previous name was Takemoto) b. 1957/08/12 Fukuoka 2010/11/08 SC 2007/01/16 Fukuoka HC 2005/05/16 Fukuoka DC Kokura Branch |
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Kobayashi Masato 小林正人 Nagoya 2011/03/10 SC 2005/07/26 Nagoya HC 2001/07/09 Nagoya DC |
Multiple Murders (x4) by Gang of 3 Youths 少年による連続 リンチ殺人事件 1994/Sept~Oct. |
Minor at time of crime. Death was demanded for all three youths, and two were sentenced to life imprisonment by district courts, later raised to death by the high courts. [ More ] |
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Haga Masayoshi 芳我匡由 Nagoya 2011/03/10 SC 2005/07/26 Nagoya HC 2001/07/09 Nagoya DC L. I. |
Minor at time of crime. Same as Kobayashi above. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment. Death sentence was imposed upon appeal. [ More ] |
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Kurosawa Atsushi 黒澤敦 (Previous name was Komori) 2011/03/10 SC Nagoya 2005/07/26 Nagoya HC 2001/07/09 Nagoya DC L. I. |
Minor at time of crime. Same as Kobayashi above. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment. Death sentence was imposed upon appeal. [ More ] |
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小林竜司 b. 1984/12/12 2011/03/25 SC 2008/05/20 Osaka HC 2007/05/22 Osaka DC |
Okayama College Student Murders (x2) 2006/06 |
Aged 21 at time of crime. Willingly confessed and turned himself into police before arrest. High Court decision issued with irregular speed. |
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Okura Osamu 大倉修 (Previous name was Taki) 2011/04/11 SC 2008/03/25 Tokyo DC 2007/02/26 Shizuoka DC |
Colleague & wife double murders 2004/09 '05/09 |
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渕上幸春 b. 1969/01/23 2011/04/19 SC 2007/01/23 Miyazaki HC 2003/05/26 Miyazaki DC |
Miyazaki Multiple Murder Case 宮崎連続殺人事件 1999/03/25~09/20 |
Claims innocence in one case, and mistaken ajudication of facts in the other. Suffers from advanced muscular dystrophy. ( More ) |
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大山清隆 2011/06/07 SC 2007/10/16 Hiroshima HC 2005/04/27 Hiroshima DC |
WifeーFather in Law Double Murder for Insurance Case 広島義父妻保険金等 殺人事件 1998/10/11~2000/03/02 |
( More ) |
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池田容 b. 1978 2011/06/16 SC 2010/11/16 Yokohama DC |
Chiba Double Male Murder 2009 |
First death sentence handed down by mixed jury system (Saibanin) and first sentenced to be confirmed by the SC. ( More ) Sentence is confirmed upon abandonment of appeal by defendant. |
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Kitamura Mami (F) 北村真美 b. 1959 2011/10/03 SC 2007/12/25 Fukuoka HC 2006/10/17 Fukuoka DC Kurume Branch |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Husband and elder son sentenced on 2007/02/27. |
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Inoue Takahiro Previous family name was Kitamura 北村孝紘 b. 1984 2011/10/03 SC 2007/12/25 Fukuoka HC 2006/10/17 Fukuoka DC Kurume Branch |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Son of Kitamura Mami. |
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Kitamura Jitsuo 北村実雄 b. 1945 age= 77 2011/10/17 SC 2008/03/27 Fukuoka HC 2007/02/27 Fukuoka DC (Kurume Branch) |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. [ More ] |
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Kitamura Takashi 北村孝 b. 1982 2011/10/17 SC 2008/03/27 Fukuoka HC 2007/02/27 Fukuoka DC (Kurume Branch) |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Denies the charges of murder. |
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守田克実 b. 1950 age = 72 2011/11/22 SC 2008/03/03 Tokyo HC 2006/12/19 Chiba DC |
Mabuchi Motor Murders& others. マブチモーター 殺人放火事件等 2002/08~11 |
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兼岩幸男 b. 1957 2011/11/30 SC 2007/02/23 Gifu DC |
Aichi Double Womens' Murder and Dismemberment Case 愛知・２女性殺害 遺棄事件 1999/08 & '03/05 |
Claims the police investigation and interrogation were illegal. ( More ) |
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松永太 b. 1961 2011/12/12 SC 2007/09/26 Fukuoka HC 2005/09/28 Fukuoka DC |
KitaKyushu Multiple Murders (x6) 北九州市の監禁・連続殺人事件 1996/02/28 ~ 98/06/07 |
( More ) |
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福田孝行 (Previous Name was Otsuki) Hiroshima 2012/01/16 SC Death 2008/04/22 Hiroshima HC Death 2006/06/20 SC (Remanded) 2002/03/14 Hiroshima HC L.I. 2000/03/22 Yamaguchi DC L.I. |
Hikari City Mother Daughter Murder 光市母子殺人事件 1999/04/14 |
Original name was Otsuki. Youngest person to be sentenced to death in modern history- aged 18 and one month at time of crime. Suffered domestic violence through childhood. Twice sentenced to life imprisonment. [ More ] Later Legal Actions: 2019/11/08 Objection Rejected Hiroshima HC. 2015/Oct Retrial Appeal Rejected (Hiroshima HC). Defense lodges objection. |
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Xie Yidi 謝依俤 b. 1977 2012/10/19 SC 2008/10/09 Tokyo DC 2006/10/02 Tokyo DC |
Hayakawa Family Robbery Murders 早川夫妻強盗殺人事件 2002/08/13 |
Defendant is a Chinese national. (Family name is pronounced "Shey") |
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渡辺純一 b. 1976 2013/01/29 SC 2009/03/19 Tokyo HC previously L.I. |
Billing Fraud Ring Murders (x4) 2004/10 2004/10/13~16 |
Originally sentenced to life imprisoment. Death sentence imposed upon appeal. Codefendant with Shimizu Taishi and Ito Reo |
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Shimizu Taishi 清水大志 b. 1980 2013/01/29 SC 2009/05/12 Tokyo HC 2007/08/07 Chiba DC |
Billing Fraud Ring Murders (x4) 2004/10 |
18 people charged. 2 accomplices received life imprisonment though death was demanded. Co-defendant with Ito Reo and Watanabe Junichi. ( More ) |
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伊藤玲雄 b. 1975 2013/02/28 SC 2009/08/28 Tokyo HC 2007/05/21 Chiba DC |
Billing Fraud Ring Confinement and Murders (x3) 2004/10. |
18 people charged. 3 accomplices received life imprisonment though death was demanded. Shimizu Taishi (above) is co-defendant. [ More ] |
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山田健一郎 b. 1966 2013/06/07 SC 2009/09/10 Tokyo HC 2008/01/21 Maebashi DC |
Maebashi Shootings 前橋銃乱射事件等 2003/Jan25 (x4) |
Third person sentenced for this crime. Denies part of the charges. Has made financial reparation to two of the victims. ( More ) |
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Takayanagi Kazuya 高柳和也 b. 1966 2013/11/25 SC 2011/10/15 Osaka HC 2009/03/17 Kobe DC Himeji Branch |
Murder and Dismemberment of 2 Women 2005 January 9 |
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Ogawa Kazuhiro 小川和弘 b. 1961 2014/03/06 SC 2011/07/26 Osaka HC 2009/12/02 Osaka DC |
Osaka Video Room Arson/Murder Case 大阪個室ビデオ店放火殺人事件 (16 people died) |
Insists the charges are bogus and the fire started from another room. Has strong support organization. (More) Confirmed as a miscarriage of justice by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. ( More ) |
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Koizumi Takeshi 小泉毅 b. 1962 2014/06/13 SC 2011/12/26 Tokyo HC 2010/03/30 Saitama DC |
Civil Servant's Home Multiple Murders 厚生事務次官宅連続襲撃事件 2008/Jan 17 |
Suffers from schizophrenia. Claims the murders were vengeance against the government for the euthanzation of his childhood dog. |
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Matsubara Tomohiro 松原智浩 2014/09/02 SC 2012/03/22 Tokyo HC 2011/03/25 Nagano DC |
Nagano Family Murders (x3) 長野一家殺害事件 2010/March 24 |
Fifth death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. First case to be appealed. Three accomplices received lesser sentences. |
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Okumoto Akihiro 奥本章寛 2014/10/16 SC 2012/03/22 Fukuoka DC 2010/11/07 Miyazaki DC |
Murder of wife, baby and mother in law. 2010/03/01 |
Third death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. ( More ) |
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桑田一也 b. 1967 2014/12/02 SC 2012/07/10 Tokyo H.C 2011/06/21 Shizuoka D.C. |
Double Women Murders 2005/October 2010/Feb |
Seventh death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. |
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Arai Ryuta 新井竜太 2015/12/15 SC 2013/06/27 Tokyo HC 2012/02/24 Saitama DC |
Saitama Murder/Insurance Fraud Case 2008/March 2009/August |
13th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Codefendant sentenced to life imprisonment. |
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Takami Sunao 高見素直 2016/02/23 SC 2013/07/31 Osaka HC 2011/10/31 Osaka DC |
Osaka Pachinko Arson Murder Case ( x5 ) 大阪パチンコ店放火 殺人事件 |
10th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Case focussed on whether death by hanging violates the constitution's prohibition against "torture and cruel punishments." |
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Takahashi Akihiko 高橋明彦 (Previous family name was Yokokura ( 旧姓・横倉） 2016/03/08 SC 2014/06/03 Sendai HC 2013/03/14 Fukushima DC |
Fukushima Family Murder (x2) 2012/July |
16th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. |
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Ito Kazufumi 伊藤和史 b. 1979 2016/04/26 SC 2014/02/20 Tokyo HC 2011/12/27 Nagano DC |
Nagano Family Murder (x3) 長野一家殺害事件 2010 March 24-25 |
12th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Codefendant with Matsubara Tomohiro and Ikeda Kaoru (above). |
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Asayama Katsumi 浅山克己 b. 1967 2016/06/13 SC 2014/10/01 Tokyo HC 2013/06/11 Tokyo DC |
Elderly Triple Murder/Arson Case 高齢者３人殺害・放火事件 2010~11 |
19th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. |
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Chiba Yutaro 千葉 祐太郎 b. 1991/07/02 Sendai 2016/06/16 SC 2014/01/31 Sendai HC 2010/11/25 Sendai DC |
Ishimaki Triple Murder & Injury Case 石巻３人殺傷事件 2010/Feb 10 |
Minor at the time of crime. 2nd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors, and the first given to a minor (less than 20 years at the time of the crime).
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Tsutsui Gonta 筒井郷太 b. 1985 2016/07/21 SC 2014/06/24 Fukuoka HC 2013/06/14 Nagasaki DC |
Nagasaki Stalker Double Murder 2011/12/16 |
17th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Police have been heavily criticized for ignoring reports of stalking made previous to the murder. ( More ) |
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Doi Kanae (F) 木嶋佳苗 b. 1975 2017/04/13 SC 2014/03/12 Tokyo HC 2012/04/13 Saitama DC |
Sequential Suspicious Tokyo Murders (x3) 首都圏連続不審死事件 2009 Jan~August |
14th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Previous name was Kijima (More) |
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Suzuki Katsuaki 鈴木勝明 b. 1967 2017/12/18 SC 2014/12/19 Osaka HC 2013/06/26 Osaka DC |
Elderly Couple Oil Drum Murder Case ドラム缶詰め殺人事件 2004/12/03~04 |
Insists upon innocence. 18th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Defendant was previously found guilty of stealing three watches and a car from the elderly couple. Robbery case was tried separately by a panel of judges. The bodies of the elderly couple were discovered in 2009. Admits to disposing of the body, after being threatened by a third party. Police have admitted to losing hair and blood evidence. |
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Lin Shinka (Jenhwa) 林振華 b. 1984 2018/10/06 SC 2015/10/14 Nagoya HC 2015/02/20 Nagoya DC |
Aichi Kanie-cho Mother Son Murder (x2) 愛知県蟹江町母子殺傷事件 2009 May 1 |
Chinese national. 22nd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. High court trial finished in one day! |
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Watanabe Tsuyoshi 渡辺剛 b. 1969 2018/12/21 SC 2015/03/16 Tokyo HC 2014/09/19 Tokyo DC |
Fund Manager Family Murder/Robbery (x2) |
21st death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. |
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Nishiguchi Munehiro 西口宗宏 b. 1962 2018/02/12 SC 2016/09/14 Osaka HC 2014/03/10 Osaka DC |
Osaka Double Murder/Robbery Case |
20th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Defendant admitted the crimes, but contested the punishment. Defense challenged death by hanging as cruel and vicious punishment. |
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Mizukai Koji 水海浩二 b. 1970 2019/05/18 SC 2018/12/18 Osaka DC |
Neyagawa Middle School Murders (x2) August 12-13 2015 |
Previous family name was Yamada. 31st death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. (More ) |
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Homi Kousei 保見光成 b. 1950 age=72 2019/07/11 SC 2016/09/13 Hiroshima HC 2015/07/28 Yamaguchi DC |
Yamaguchi Elderly Murder/Arson Case (x5) |
23rd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Aged 63 at time of crime. Mental competency is in dispute. |
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Hori Yoshitomo 堀慶末 2019/07/19 SC 2016/11/08 Nagoya HC 2015/12/15 Nagoya DC |
Pachinko Owners Home Murder Case (x2) |
Defendant was serving a sentence of life for a later crime at the time of conviction. |
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Uematsu Satoshi 植松聖 b. 1990 2020/03/16 Tokyo DC |
Sagamihara Stabbing Rampage (AKA Tsukui Yamayuri-en Care Facility Case) 2016/07/26 19 people murdered and 25 injured at a facility for patients with mental disabilities. |
34th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. Defendant's mental competency is in dispute. Appeal filed (April, 2022) Filing after previous abandonment is very rare. ( More ) |
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Tsuchiya Kazuya 土屋和也 b. 1989 2020/09/08 SC 2018/02/14 Tokyo HC 2016/ 07/20 Maebashi DC |
Maebashi Elderly Stabbing Murder Case ( x2) Nov~Dec 2014 |
25th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Defendant, raised in children's home since age 4, suffers personality disorders. |
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Shiraishi Takahiro 白石隆浩 2021/01/05 SC 2020/12/14 Tokyo DC |
Twitter Killer Case 12 Murders 2017 Aug~Oct |
35th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. ( More ) |
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Hida Hiroaki 肥田広明 b. 1953 age 70 2021/01/28 SC 2018/07/30 Tokyo HC 2016/11/24 Shizuoka DC |
Itoh Double Murder-Robbery 2012/12/18 |
Claims innocence. Retrial filed August, 13 2021. |
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Kawasaki Tatsuya 川崎竜弥 b. 1984 2021/ 02/15 SC 2019/03/15 Tokyo DC 2018/02/23 Shizuoka DC |
Lake Hamana Double Murder |
28th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. ( More ) Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. |
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Kakehi Chisako (F) 筧千佐子 b. 1947 Age= 76 2021/06/29 SC 2019/05/23 Osaka HC 2017/11/7 Kyoto DC |
Triple Murder (Husband and two common law partners) |
27th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. 70 years old at time of sentence. Suffers from dementia. High court denied a second psychiatric review. |
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Imai Hayato 今井隼人 b. 1993 2023/05/11 SC 2022/03/09 Tokyo HC 2018/03/21 Yokohama DC |
Kawasaki Nursing Home Multiple Murders (x3) Nov. 2014 (Arrested Feb 2015) |
30th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. ( More ) Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. |
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Iwama Toshihiko 岩間俊彦 b. 1977 2023/06/05 SC 2019/12/17 Tokyo HC 2017/08/25 Kofu DC |
Manila Double Murder for Insurance Case (x2) Oct 2014 and Sep 2015 |
27th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. ( More ) Crimes occurred in the Philippines. Japanese nationals can be tried locally for crimes committed overseas. |
http://www.geocities.jp/hyouhakudanna/cplist.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
List of death sentences handed down by the high courts.
All cases are being appealed to the Supreme Court.
High Court Death Penalty Statistics
Total Defendants = 2
Minors=0 (Less than 20 years old at time of crime)
Women = 0
Non-Japanese: = 0
Originally Sentenced to Life Imprisonment= 0
(Sentences raised to death upon appeal of the prosecution).
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Name (last/first) F=female High Court Decision Date District Court Decision Date |
Case Name Date of Incident |
Notes |
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Uemura Takashi 上村隆 b. 1967 2021/05/20 Osaka HC 2019/03/15 Kobe DC Himeji Branch |
Western Japan Male Triple Murder 2010-11 |
32nd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Two of the three bodies have yet to be found. Accomplice received a life sentence. ( More ) |
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Nakata Mitsuru 2021/09/15 Fukuoka HC 2019/12/13 Fukuoka DC |
Fukuoka Family Murder (x3) 2017/06/05 (Murder of wife and two children.) |
33rd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Former police officer. Case based nearly completely on circumstantial evidence ( More ). |
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DISTRICT COURT CONVICTIONS
List of defendants who have been sentenced to death by district courts (the court of first instance) in Japan.
All have the right to appeal to the high courts (the court of second instance) and then to the Supreme Court.
Present District Court Convictions
Total= 4
======
Women = 0
Minors = 0
Non-Japanese = 0
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Name (last/first) F=female POD: Place of Detention Decision Date Jurisdiction (DC=District Court) |
Case Name Date of Incident |
Notes |
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Hirano Tatsuhiko 平野達彦 b. 1974 2017/03/22 Kobe DC |
Awaji Island Multiple Stabbing Murder Case (x5) March 9, 2015 |
26th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Mental competency in dispute. Claims that government agents disturbed his brain with electro-magnetic radiation. Defense demanded lesser sentence based on diminished capacity. ( More ) |
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Iwakura Tomohiro 岩倉知広 2020/12/10 Kagoshima DC |
Kagoshima Patricide Murder ( x5) March-April 2018 |
34rd death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. ( More ) |
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Komatsu Hirobumi 小松博文 b. 1985 2021/06/30 Mito DC |
Hitachi Wife and Children Murder (x6) October 6, 2017 (Murder of wife and 5 children). |
36th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Defendant's mental competency is in dispute. ( More ) |
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Nomura Satoru 野村悟 b. 1947 Age 74 at time of sentence. 2021/08/24 Fukuoka DC |
Murder and Multiple Assaults. |
37th death sentence handed down by mixed jurors. Organized crime chief. Age 74 at time of sentence. Convicted of ordering underlings to maim and murder. |