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
- NOVEMBER 2, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF 2 WOMEN IN GIFU, OSAKA
the Osaka District Court, Japan, sentenced Kenji...
- OCTOBER 27, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DELAYING HANGING OF INMATES MAY RESULT IN DISTRUST IN LAW: NAGASE
Justice Minister Jinen Nagase said that people could lose trust in the rule of law if the Japanese government continues to spend too much time beyond a legal limit to execute a death-row inmate after the verdict becomes final in the criminal trial.
- OCTOBER 12, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DEATH PENALTY UPHELD FOR MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING WIFE, FRIEND
the Supreme Court turned down an appeal from Katsuhisa Cho, a man who was given the death penalty for killing his wife and a friend in the late 1980s.
- OCTOBER 11, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. EX-CONSTRUCTION BOSS HANDED DEATH SENTENCE OVER YAMANASHI KILLINGS
former construction company boss Yoshihiro Asa, 57, accused of murder and injury resulting in death after three bodies were uncovered at a camp site in Yamanashi Prefecture in 2003, was sentenced to death in a ruling at the Kofu District Court, Japan.
- OCTOBER 10, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. KOBAYASHI WITHDRAWS APPEAL OVER DEATH SENTENCE
Kaoru Kobayashi withdrew his appeal against his death sentence for kidnapping and killing a 7-year-old girl in Japan’s Nara Prefecture in 2004, his defence counsel said.
- OCTOBER 2, 2006ChinaDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN COURT SENTENCES CHINESE MAN TO DEATH
a Japanese court sentenced to death a Chinese man for killing and robbing a Japanese couple who had rented him an apartment.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON MAN FOR MURDER OF 2
the Tokyo High Court upheld the death sentence on a man for killing two pachinko parlor employees in Gunma Prefecture in 2003.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DEATH SENTENCE FOR EX-GANGSTER UPHELD
the Tokyo High Court, Japan, upheld a death sentence against a former gang member who was convicted of shooting dead five other gangsters in December 2003.
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DEATH SENTENCE AGAINST ARSONIST UPHELD
the Tokyo High Court, Japan, rejected an appeal by an arsonist who was sentenced to death by a lower court for killing four people by setting fire to their home in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, in 2003.
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR NARA SCHOOLGIRL MURDER
the Nara District Court in Japan handed down the death penalty to Kaoru Kobayashi, convicted of murdering 7-year-old schoolgirl Kaede Ariyama after kidnapping her on November 17, 2004. Kobayashi was handed the death penalty after being convicted of abduct
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. HIGH COURT OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE, GIVES LIFE TERM FOR FATAL ARSON
the Tokyo High Court, Japan, overturned a lower court's death sentence and gave Daizo Fukushima...
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2006JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. NEW GOVERNMENT LEAVES DOOR OPEN TO EXECUTIONS
Japan’s new justice minister left open the door to executions after his predecessor refused to authorize any hangings.