Japan
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 1
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The death penalty is provided for by the Criminal Procedure...
- News items in the archive
- 739
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Japan is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 1 the year before. The archive holds 739 news items on Japan, from 1999 to today.
In Japan the death penalty is carried out by hanging and concerns almost exclusively cases of multiple murder. Those sentenced remain on death row for years, in isolation, and are informed of their execution on the morning it takes place. Families and lawyers learn of it afterwards.
This is the aspect of the Japanese system that has drawn the most international criticism. The archive follows executions, retrial cases and the domestic debate.
Latest news
FEBRUARY 3, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: SUPREME COURT NULLIFIES TWO DEATH SENTENCES HANDED DOWN IN LAY JUDGE TRIALS
JANUARY 24, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: CABINET OFFICE POLL, 80% OF RESPONDENTS THINK DEATH PENALTY ‘PERMISSIBLE’
The Government of Japan released an opinion poll showing 80.3 percent of respondents considered the
- JANUARY 1, 2015JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
DECEMBER 28, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: 129 INMATES REMAIN ON DEATH ROW
Japan’s prisons had 129 inmates on death row as of Dec 26, according to a Justice Ministry report.
NOVEMBER 12, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: LAWYERS' GROUP URGES NEW JUSTICE MINISTER TO SUSPEND EXECUTIONS
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations submitted a written request for Justice Minister Yoko
- OCTOBER 10, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
a death sentence of a man, who was declared guilty of murder, was overturned to life
a death sentence of a man, who was declared guilty of murder, was overturned to life
OCTOBER 3, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: COURT FINALIZES DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN OVER 3 MURDERS IN TOKYO, YAMAGATA
The Tokyo High Court turned down an appeal against a death sentence by a man convicted of three
- SEPTEMBER 19, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
the Tokyo District Court sentenced to death Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 44, who had pleaded not guilty in the trial,
the Tokyo District Court sentenced to death Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 44, who had pleaded not guilty in the trial,
SEPTEMBER 11, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MATSUSHIMA STAYS COURSE ON DEATH PENALTY
Newly appointed Justice Minister Midori Matsushima backed the death penalty as a deterrent against crime
SEPTEMBER 2, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY HANDED DOWN BY LAY JUDGES FOR FIRST TIME
The Supreme Court of Japan upheld the death sentence handed down by lay judges for the first time since
- AUGUST 29, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TWO DEATH-ROW INMATES EXECUTED IN SENDAI AND TOKYO
Japan executed two multiple killers, bringing to 11 the total number of death sentences carried out since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took power in 2012.
- AUGUST 11, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: LAWMAKER GROUP SEEKING END TO DEATH PENALTY TO RESUME ACTIVITIES
JULY 25, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYCHINA: JAPANESE MAN EXECUTED OVER STIMULANT DRUG SMUGGLING
Chinese authorities executed a Japanese man in his 50s who had been sentenced to death in connection with
JUNE 26, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: KILLER HANGED IN FIRST EXECUTION THIS YEAR
Japan hanged a man, in the nation's first execution in 2014, and the ninth since the conservative government of Shinzo Abe came to power in December 2012.
MARCH 27, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: WORLD'S 'LONGEST-SERVING' DEATH ROW INMATE GRANTED RETRIAL
A man believed to be the world's longest-serving death row inmate was granted a retrial in Japan over multiple murders in 1966, decades after doubts emerged about his guilt.
MARCH 20, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH PENALTY UPHELD FOR WOMAN
The Matsue branch of the Hiroshima High Court upheld capital punishment for a woman convicted of killing
- MARCH 10, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: MAN GETS DEATH FOR 2011 ROBBERY-MURDERS IN OSAKA
The Osaka District Court sentenced a 52-year-old man to death for killing two people in two separate
- JANUARY 1, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
DECEMBER 12, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN EXECUTES 2 KILLERS; PERIOD ON DEATH ROW SHORTENS UNDER LDP-LED GOVERNMENT
Two convicted murderers were hanged in the fourth round of executions since the Liberal
- NOVEMBER 30, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
When defending Japan’s use of the death penalty, the government always cites overwhelming public support
When defending Japan’s use of the death penalty, the government always cites overwhelming public support
- OCTOBER 16, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court of Japan rejected the seventh request for retrial from Masaru Okunishi, an 87-year-old
the Supreme Court of Japan rejected the seventh request for retrial from Masaru Okunishi, an 87-year-old
OCTOBER 8, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: HIGH COURT OVERTURNS DEATH SENTENCE GIVEN TO MAN FOR MURDERING CHIBA STUDENT
The Tokyo High Court overturned a death sentence given to a man convicted of murdering a student
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: DEATH ROW INMATE HANGED; 6TH EXECUTION SINCE ABE BECAME PM
Japan hanged a 73-year-old man, bringing to six the number of inmates executed since the conservative government of Shinzo Abe came to power in December.
JUNE 27, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: OSAKA DISTRICT COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF ELDERLY COUPLE
A 46 year old man was sentenced to death by the Osaka District Court for the gruesome killing
- JUNE 20, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
the Tokyo High Court overturned a lower court decision in a lay judge trial that sentenced a 62-year-old
the Tokyo High Court overturned a lower court decision in a lay judge trial that sentenced a 62-year-old
- JUNE 14, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: STALKER SENTENCED TO HANG FOR DOUBLE MURDER
The Nagasaki District Court sentenced a 28-year-old man to death for the 2011 murders of two relatives
JUNE 11, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING PARENTS OF EX-BOYFRIENDS
A 47 year old man was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court for the murder
APRIL 26, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: 2 INMATES HANGED, BRINGING NUMBER OF EXECUTIONS TO 5 UNDER ABE
Japan said it hanged two death-row inmates, in the first executions since a trio of convicted killers died in the gallows two months ago and drawing immediate protest from human rights groups.
- MARCH 27, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
a Malaysian court of appeal upheld the death penalty...
a Malaysian court of appeal upheld the death penalty...
- FEBRUARY 21, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: THREE DEATH-ROW INMATES EXECUTED
Japan has hanged a child killer and two other convicted murderers, its first executions since a conservative government swept to power in landslide elections in December.