Japan 2008
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
News on Japan in 2008
- DECEMBER 28, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
a woman who was sentenced to death over a 2007 robbery-murder case committed suicide at a detention house in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
a woman who was sentenced to death over a 2007 robbery-murder case committed suicide at a detention house in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan
- DECEMBER 22, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
EXECUTIONS IN JAPAN EXCEED DEATH SENTENCE CONFIRMATIONS IN 2008
death-row inmates executed in 2008 will certainly outnumber those whose death penalty was confirmed
- DECEMBER 18, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
Japanese death row inmate Kaoru Kobayashi, who previously asked his lawyer to withdraw his appeal
Japanese death row inmate Kaoru Kobayashi, who previously asked his lawyer to withdraw his appeal
- 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...
- OCTOBER 6, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. 42 DEATH-ROW INMATES ARE SEEKING RETRIALS
a survey by a Japanese citizens' group opposed to capital punishment found that at least 42 of some 100
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR 'EXORCIST' OVER DEATHS OF 6
the Supreme Court in Tokyo, Japan, upheld rulings by lower courts that sentenced a self claimed exorcist to death for the deaths of six followers, tossing out her not-guilty appeal.
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
EU CONCERNED BY EXECUTIONS IN JAPAN
the European Union released a statement saying it was "deeply concerned at the Japanese authorities' announcement that three people under sentence of death – Mr Yoshiyuki Mantani, aged 68, Mr Mineteru Yamamoto, aged 68, Mr Isamu Hirano, aged 61 – were han
- SEPTEMBER 11, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN EXECUTES THREE MEN FOR MURDERS
Japan hanged three death-row inmates, officials said, bringing the number of executions this year to 13
- AUGUST 1, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
in the reshuffled Japanese Government, Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama...
in the reshuffled Japanese Government, Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama...
- JULY 24, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN CRITICISES JAPANESE JUSTICE MINISTER
Hands Off Cain criticised Japanese Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama in its annual report, describing him as an ''outspoken supporter of the death penalty'' who broke taboos maintained in Japan over executions.
- JULY 7, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
Japan's justice minister, dubbed the "grim reaper" for ordering...
Japan's justice minister, dubbed the "grim reaper" for ordering...
- JUNE 17, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN HANGS THREE MEN FOR MURDERS
Japan hanged three men convicted of murder, the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
- JUNE 12, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
Japan expressed readiness to maintain...
Japan expressed readiness to maintain...
- JUNE 5, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY FOR DOUBLE MURDER
the Japanese Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision that sentenced a 47 year
- MAY 28, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY SLAMS INCREASE IN JAPANESE HANGINGS
Amnesty International voiced "great concern" about a recent increase in the number of executions in Japan as well as the secretive nature of police investigations.
- MAY 27, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: VICIOUSNESS OF GANGS FACTOR IN DEATH SENTENCE
the ultimate penalty imposed by the Nagasaki District Court in Japan on the defendant in the murder of a mayor seemed to show that judges had no other choice, given the vicious nature of his crime and his unreasonable motive behind it.
- MAY 26, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. GANGSTER SENTENCED TO HANG FOR MAYOR'S ASSASSINATION
A gangster has been sentenced to death by a Japanese court for killin
- MAY 20, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN. DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD FOR ROLE IN BURYING 2 ALIVE
the Osaka High Court in Japan upheld the death sentence given to a 23 year old unemployed man
- MAY 9, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN URGED TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AT UN HUMAN RIGHTS REVIEW
Japan faced calls for abolishing capital punishment at the working session of the UN Human Rights Council to review the country's human rights record.