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.
Latest news
FEBRUARY 15, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DEATH PENALTY GIVEN TO MURDERER WITH SINGLE VICTIM AND NO CRIMINAL RECORD
In Japan, an Okayama district court sentenced 30-year old Koichi Sumida to death for killing a 27
- JANUARY 1, 2013JapanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
The death penalty in Japan is provided for 13 crimes
DECEMBER 4, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: DISTRICT COURT SENTENCES WOMAN TO HANG FOR KILLING TWO MEN WHO LOANED HER MONEY
In Japan, the Tottori District Court sentenced a 38-year-old bar worker to death for killing
NOVEMBER 27, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: '80%' APPROVAL OF DEATH PENALTY HIT
The government inflates support for the death penalty in its opinion surveys and a significant portion
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
the European Union condemned two executions in Japan
the European Union condemned two executions in Japan
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: 2 DEATH ROW INMATES HANGED
Two death row inmates in Japan were hanged, Kyodo News reported, quoting Justice Minister Makoto Tai. The hangings brought to seven the number of death row inmates executed during the regime of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
- AUGUST 21, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
a Malaysian court handed down a death sentence
- AUGUST 3, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TWO KILLERS HANGED, IN TOKYO AND OSAKA
Two death-row inmates were hanged in Tokyo and Osaka, in the second round of executions
JUNE 5, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EXECUTION OF AUM FOUNDER LIKELY POSTPONED
The execution of Aum Supreme Truth founder Chizuo Matsumoto is highly likely to be postponed
- APRIL 20, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa has rebuffed criticism...
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa has rebuffed criticism...
APRIL 18, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EX-JUSTICE MINISTER VOICES REGRET OVER RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka said it is regrettable that execution of the death
APRIL 13, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: WOMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING 3 MEN
A 37-year-old woman was sentenced to death in Japan for killing three men
- APRIL 11, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
the Fukuoka High Court, in Japan...
the Fukuoka High Court, in Japan...
- MARCH 30, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: PRIME MINISTER YOSHIHIKO NODA STANDS BY USE OF DEATH PENALTY
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda defended the use of the death penalty, a day after
- MARCH 29, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
EU 'REGRETS' JAPAN EXECUTIONS, URGES MORATORIUM
The European Union voiced "regret" at Japan's resumption of capital punishment after a 20-month
MARCH 29, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: 3 INMATES HANGED; 1ST EXECUTIONS SINCE JULY 2010
Japan hanged three death-row inmates in its first executions since 2010, reigniting the debate over capital punishment in one of the world’s richest countries.
- MARCH 15, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
the Osaka District Court, in Japan, acquitted a 54-year-old...
the Osaka District Court, in Japan, acquitted a 54-year-old...
- MARCH 2, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TOP COURT REJECTS APPEAL, FINALIZING DEATH PENALTY FOR MURDER-ROBBERY
In Japan, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal by a 66-year-old man sentenced to death for robbing and murdering a couple in Saitama Prefecture in February 2007
- FEBRUARY 20, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY AFTER CAMPAIGN
Japan's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence for a man who killed
FEBRUARY 1, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER FEELS SIGNING OFF ON HANGINGS JUST PART OF JOB DESCRIPTION
Toshio Ogawa is the first justice minister to tacitly support capital punishment since the Democratic
- JANUARY 16, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: GROUP ASKS NEW JUSTICE MINISTER NOT TO ISSUE EXECUTION ORDERS
a Tokyo-based human rights group asked new Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa to continue
- JANUARY 13, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: NEW JUSTICE MINISTER HINTS AT RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
Japan's new Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa indicated he could resume issuing orders for executions
- JANUARY 1, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
Japanese criminal law envisages the death penalty for 13 different...
Japanese criminal law envisages the death penalty for 13 different crimes but in practice death sentences are only handed down for murder.
DECEMBER 30, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MANY DEATH ROW INMATES ON MEDS
Nearly half of death row inmates in Japan are on full-time medication for mental
- DECEMBER 28, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: NO EXECUTIONS IN 2011 FOR 1ST TIME IN 19 YRS
It was confirmed that no execution would be carried out in 2011, the first time in 19
- DECEMBER 26, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLER OF EX-BUREAUCRAT, WIFE
presiding Judge Shoichi Yagi the Tokyo High Court in Japan upheld the death sentence of Takeshi Koizumi, 49, for killing former Vice Health and Welfare Minister Takehiko Yamaguchi, 66, and his wife Michiko, 61, at their home in Saitama city on November 17
- DECEMBER 19, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: CONSTRUCTION BOSS APPEALS DEATH SENTENCE
former construction company president Yoshihiro Asa is appealing his death sentence to the Third Petty Bench of the Supreme Court in Japan.
DECEMBER 17, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: BAR FEDERATION TO ESTABLISH PANEL FOR ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
the Japan Federation of Bar Associations decided to establish a committee to pursue
- DECEMBER 12, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TOKYO SUBWAY GAS ATTACK: LAST DEATH SENTENCE UPHELD
Japan's Supreme Court upheld the death sentence handed to Seiichi Endo, 51, for gas attacks on the Tokyo subway on March 20, 1995, a court spokesman said.
- DECEMBER 6, 2011JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH OVER 2010 MURDER-ROBBERY IN NAGANO
Presiding Judge Junko Takagi of the Nagano District Court...