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
MAY 26, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS 'BLACK WIDOW' DEATH SENTENCE
A Japanese court on 24 May 2019 upheld the death sentence for a woman dubbed the "Black Widow", who used cyanide to kill a string of elderly and rich lovers and pocketed millions in insurance payouts and inheritance.
MAY 23, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH SENTENCE FINALIZED FOR MAN OVER 2015 MURDER OF 2 CHILDREN
The death sentence has been finalized for a 49-year-old man convicted of the 2015 murder of two junior high school students in western Japan after he withdrew his appeal, a court said on 21 May 2019.
MARCH 18, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 PEOPLE, 2 BODIES STILL NOT FOUND
A Japanese court sentenced a 52-year-old man to death on 15 March 2019 for killing three men in western Japan between 2010 and 2011, though two of the three bodies have yet to be located.
- JANUARY 1, 2019JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
- DECEMBER 27, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: 2 DEATH ROW INMATES HANGED, BRINGING 2018 EXECUTIONS TO 15
Japan hanged two men convicted of murder on 27 December 2018, the justice minister said, bringing the number of executions this year to 15 -- tied for the highest amount on record.
DECEMBER 21, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: OSAKA MAN GIVEN DEATH SENTENCE FOR CHILD MURDERS
A court in Osaka on 19 December 2018 sentenced a man to death for the murders of a 13-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy.
OCTOBER 8, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH SENTENCE FINALIZED FOR CHINESE MAN OVER 2009 DOUBLE MURDER IN AICHI
A death sentence was finalized on 2 October 2018 for a 35-year-old Chinese man convicted of murdering two people in 2009, after the Supreme Court rejected his request for retraction of the previous dismissal of his appeal.
- JULY 25, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN EXECUTES SIX MORE MEMBERS OF DOOMSDAY CULT
- JULY 6, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN HANGS CULT LEADER SHOKO ASAHARA, 6 OTHERS FOR 1995 TOKYO SUBWAY SARIN ATTACK
The former leader of Aum Shinrikyo, the Japanese doomsday cult that carried out a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, was executed alongside six other members of the cult, Japanese media reported.
MARCH 22, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EX-WORKER SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 AT NURSING HOME
A court sentenced a 25-year-old man to death for killing three elderly residents at a nursing home he was working for in Kawasaki, near Tokyo, in 2014.
MARCH 9, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: PERUVIAN SENTENCED TO HANG FOR KILLING 6 PEOPLE
A Japanese court sentenced a Peruvian man to hang for killing six people over several days in 2015 near Tokyo.
- JANUARY 1, 2018JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes