Japan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
- CONSTITUTION
- May 3, 1947
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on the German model with Anglo-American influences; review of legislative acts by the Supreme Court
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and House of Representatives (Shugi-in)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (president appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Government, others appointed by the Government)
RELIGIONS
majority of Buddhists and Shintoists; minorities of Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox
From the country
- DECEMBER 16, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
a 69-year-old death row inmate died of multiple organ failure after a battle with cancer
a 69-year-old death row inmate died of multiple organ failure after a battle with cancer
- NOVEMBER 11, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: DEATH ROW INMATE, LAWYERS SEEK STATE COMPENSATION
a death row inmate and his two lawyers filed a damages suit against the Japanese state, arguing it is illegal that the Hiroshima Detention House did not allow him to meet the lawyers privately.
- NOVEMBER 10, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: FAMILY OF CULT GURU ON DEATH ROW FILES FOR RETRIAL
the family members of death-row inmate Chizuo Matsumoto, former head of the notorious AUM Shinrikyo religious cult, filed a petition for his retrial with the Tokyo District Court in Japan.
NOVEMBER 4, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY "NOT APPROPRIATE"
Japanese Justice Minister Eisuke Mori said it is not acceptable to abolish the death penalty. "It is not appropriate to terminate capital punishment," he told a press conference after the Cabinet meeting.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
UN RIGHTS PANEL URGES JAPAN TO END CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the Geneva-based Human Rights Committee urged Japan to consider abolishing the death penalty despite overall domestic public opinion in its favour.
- OCTOBER 28, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN HANGS TWO MORE ON DEATH ROW
Japan hanged two more death-row inmates as the country steps up executions to a pace unseen in three decades, despite an ongoing UN review of its rights record.
- OCTOBER 28, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN APPLIES DEATH PENALTY AT HIGHEST RATE SINCE 1975
Japan defied international opinion by executing two men on the same day that the UN issued a report critical
- OCTOBER 17, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
UN PANEL RAPS JAPAN'S DEATH PENALTY, POLICE DETENTION
members of a UN human rights panel criticised Japan's death penalty and police detention, many calling for their abolishment during a meeting in Geneva.
- OCTOBER 10, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY PROTESTS DEATH PENALTY USE WORLDWIDE
anti-death penalty activists staged a mock hanging outside the Japanese embassy in Belgium to mark the European day against the death penalty, calling on nations around the world to stop executions.
- OCTOBER 10, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
ACTIVISTS REVEAL JAPAN'S DEATH ROW TO THE WORLD
Japan’s death row inmates revealed to the world their personal stories of isolation and suffering, uninformed until the last minute when they will be taken to the gallows.
- OCTOBER 9, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN CRITICISED AHEAD OF ANTI-DEATH PENALTY DAY
human rights campaigners demanded that Japan impose a moratorium on executions, accusing the country of going against worldwide opinion on the eve of a global day against the death penalty
- OCTOBER 9, 2008ChinaDEATH PENALTY
the Tokyo High Court in Japan upheld a lower court death sentence...
the Tokyo High Court in Japan upheld a lower court death sentence...