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
- MARCH 1, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
The Tsu District Court sentenced 46 year old Nobuyuki...
The Tsu District Court sentenced 46 year old Nobuyuki Sawamoto, 50 year old Sakae Matsuyama, and Yoshiaki Fukumoto, 49, to death for murdering two Filipinos and robbing them of money and jewellery in Mie Prefecture on December 25, 1998
- FEBRUARY 28, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
Overruling a lower court decision that imposed a life...
Overruling a lower court decision that imposed a life sentence, the Tokyo High Court sentenced Takashi Mochida to death for robbing and murdering a 44-year-old female employee of Japan Tobacco Inc
- FEBRUARY 17, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
Isamu Hirano,53, was sentenced to death by the Utsunomiya...
Isamu Hirano,53, was sentenced to death by the Utsunomiya District Court for killing his former employer and his employer's wife, stealing their money, and setting fire to their house in Ichikai, Tochigi Prefecture in 1994
- FEBRUARY 9, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
Hiroaki Hidaka, 37, was given the death sentence for...
Hiroaki Hidaka, 37, was given the death sentence for murdering four women over a five-month period in 1996
- FEBRUARY 4, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
The Supreme Court upheld a ruling from two earlier...
The Supreme Court upheld a ruling from two earlier trials sentencing Susumu Kitagawa, 52, to death for assaulting four women and killing two of them between 1983 and 1990
- FEBRUARY 3, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
Tokyo requested that Lebanon extradite five Japanese...
Tokyo requested that Lebanon extradite five Japanese Red Army members wanted on international terrorism charges including the 1972 Lod airport attack in Tel Aviv, which saw 26 people murdered
- JANUARY 17, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
The defence made its closing arguments in the trial...
The defence made its closing arguments in the trial of thirty year old Yoshihiro Inoue, one of five Aum Shinri Kyo (Supreme Truth Sect) cult members accused of direct involvement in the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway system
- JANUARY 1, 2000JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by the Criminal Procedure...
The death penalty is provided for by the Criminal Procedure Law and by the Penal Code for a number of offenses (13) but, in practice, it is applied only for murder
- DECEMBER 16, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On December 16, Japan hanged 2 men: Kazuo Sagawa, 48,...
On December 16, Japan hanged 2 men: Kazuo Sagawa, 48, and Teruo Ono, 62
- DECEMBER 15, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On December 15, prosecutors urged the Tokyo District...
On December 15, prosecutors urged the Tokyo District Court to pass the death sentence on Satoru Hashimoto, 32, the "home affairs minister" of the Aum Supreme Truth cult, who is charged with murdering a lawyer and his family and with involvement in the sar
- DECEMBER 7, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On December 7, prosecutors sought the death penalty...
On December 7, prosecutors sought the death penalty for Toru Toyoda, 31, and Kenichi Hirose, 35, two doomsday cult leaders accused of spraying nerve gas in a deadly attack on Tokyo's subways, an official said
- NOVEMBER 27, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On November 27, a survey has revealed that almost 79
On November 27, a survey has revealed that almost 79