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
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: ONE DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD IN KITAKYUSHU SERIAL KILLINGS
the Fukuoka High Court rejected an appeal by Futoshi Matsunaga, 46....
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPANESE MINISTER WANTS 'AUTOMATIC' EXECUTIONS
Japan's justice minister called for quicker executions, saying death row inmates should be hanged "automatically" within six months of losing their last appeal.
- AUGUST 23, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN INCREASES HANGINGS TO EASE DEATH ROW OVERCROWDING
Japan carried out three hangings, the most executions in a single day in 31 years, as it struggles to reduce a growing death row population.
- AUGUST 23, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: DEATH SENTENCE FINALISED FOR EX-AUM SHINRIKYO MEMBER
Masato Yokoyama, one of the perpetrators of the 1995 Tokyo subway sarin gas attack that killed 12 people and injured dozens, carried out by the buddhist sect Aum Shinrikyo, had his death sentence finalised when the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, the Y
- AUGUST 23, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. ACTIVISTS CONDEMN JAPAN HANGINGS
Human Rights groups strongly condemned the hanging of three convicted criminals by Japan.
- AUGUST 20, 2007ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINESE COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCES FOR TWO JAPANESE OVER DRUGS
a Chinese court upheld the death sentences of two Japanese men convicted of attempting to smuggle drugs from China to Japan in 2003, an official at the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang said.
- AUGUST 16, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR BROTHER'S MURDER
the Tokyo High Court in Japan upheld a lower court ruling that sentenced a man to death for having an acquaintance kill his younger brother in 2005, while he was on parole after serving time for another murder.
- JULY 25, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: EX-GANGSTER'S DEATH SENTENCE FINALISED
the death sentence given to a former gangster for two murders was finalised after he withdrew an appeal...
- JULY 20, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR TOKYO GAS ATTACKER
Japan's top court upheld a death sentence against a doomsday cult member who played a
- JULY 13, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. TOKYO HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE IN 1995 SUBWAY GASSING
a Japanese high court upheld the death sentence of a former medical
- JULY 5, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE OF MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING 2
the Supreme Court in Japan upheld the death sentence of Kunihiko Hamakawa...
- JUNE 25, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. EX-JUDGE URGES CONDEMNED MAN'S RETRIAL
Norimichi Kumamoto, a former judge who in 1968 sentenced a pro boxer to