Does the Death Penalty Solve Everything? The Story Behind Japan’s First Execution in Three Years [Sunday Japan Culture]

Execution of Serial Killer Carried Out on the 27th of Last Month
Suzuki, Minister of Justice: "Great Injustice to Victims and Families... Major Shock and Anxiety for Society"
105 Death Row Inmates... 49 Have Filed for Retrial

When comparing the judicial systems of South Korea and Japan, the first major difference that comes to mind is the death penalty. While South Korea technically retains the death penalty, it has not carried out an execution since 1997, and is therefore classified as a de facto abolitionist country. In contrast, neighboring Japan still maintains and enforces the death penalty. In fact, the execution carried out on the 27th of last month has reignited debate over this issue.

In South Korea, there are voices on social networking services (SNS) calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, demanding harsher punishment for heinous crimes. So what about Japan? In a country where executions are actually carried out, does this kind of debate disappear? Japanese media have reported extensively on the recent execution, raising various issues. Today, we will summarize the reasons why Japan carried out its first execution in three years, as well as the subsequent ongoing media coverage regarding the Japanese death penalty system.

Serial killer of nine... Targeted only the vulnerable

The person executed this time was a 34-year-old male serial killer, Takahiro Shiraishi. Shiraishi targeted people who posted depressive messages on social networking services (SNS), approaching them directly. One by one, he lured nine victims in their teens and twenties to his apartment, where he robbed them of cash and murdered them. During this process, it was revealed that he also sexually assaulted eight female victims. All the victims’ bodies were kept at his residence. After being arrested, he admitted to the charges and was sentenced to death in January 2021. The execution was carried out four years later.

A journalist who met Shiraishi several times to ask about his motives reported that, at first, Shiraishi said, "I have no regrets. I regret being caught, but I do not regret what I did," and, "SNS was convenient because people were easily ensnared. I sent messages indiscriminately to people who posted about being lonely or not wanting to live. I did not even know the victims’ names until I was arrested," which caused public outrage.

However, as the trial progressed, Shiraishi changed his stance, saying, "The bereaved families feel great loss and anger toward me. I realized I had done something terrible." On the morning before the verdict, he said, "I am prepared to be executed because I did something worthy of the death penalty." The Tokyo District Court sentenced him to death, and although his defense appealed, Shiraishi withdrew the appeal, making the death sentence final at the first trial. The court stated, "This was a serious crime committed for personal desires, targeting only psychologically vulnerable victims in a premeditated manner. It was cunning and despicable," as it handed down the sentence. This covers the information about the death row inmate.

Was it because of the upcoming election or the controversy? Media question the timing and reasons

Japanese media published many reports questioning the timing of the execution. This is because, following the execution of Tomohiro Kato?who committed the Akihabara indiscriminate killing incident in July 2022?there had been no executions for over 1,000 days. This led Japanese media to speculate that the government had effectively entered a moratorium on executions.

In Japan, after an execution, the Minister of Justice holds a press conference to announce it. On this occasion, Minister of Justice Keisuke Suzuki held a press conference, explaining that he had signed the execution order on the 23rd of last month, four days before the execution. Regarding the reason, he stated, "This case resulted in nine victims within two months, driven by personal sexual and financial motives, causing great shock and anxiety in society." He added, "It is an unbearably unjust incident not only for the victims who lost their lives but also for their families."

After the press conference, when asked by reporters, "Why was the execution decided now?" and "Was there a specific reason Shiraishi was chosen this time?" Minister Suzuki flatly replied, "I cannot answer questions related to the decision-making process for executions." The Mainichi Shimbun analyzed that "it is possible the timing was chosen because the National Diet had adjourned ahead of the July House of Councillors election."

Suzuki Keisuke, the Minister of Justice, is holding an emergency press conference regarding the execution of the death penalty carried out on the 27th of last month. Japanese media also reported the execution as breaking news. Nittere.

Japanese criminal procedure law stipulates that the Minister of Justice must order an execution within six months of the sentence being finalized. However, since the death penalty is the ultimate punishment, the Ministry of Justice conducts multiple reviews, considering the possibility of retrial and the mental state of the death row inmate, before the minister issues the order. The review process and whether the inmate has requested a retrial are not disclosed.

Some analysts believe that the reason executions were not carried out for over 1,000 days was due to a controversial statement made by a former Minister of Justice. In 2022, then-Minister of Justice Yasuhiro Hanashi caused controversy at a political gathering by saying, "The Minister of Justice only gets attention when he stamps the death warrant in the morning and becomes the top news story in the afternoon." This "death warrant stamp remark" led to his dismissal. The two ministers who succeeded him did not carry out any executions, possibly due to this controversy. Then, in October of last year, Iwao Hakamada, the longest-serving death row inmate who had been imprisoned for 48 years after being sentenced to death for a family murder in Shizuoka Prefecture, was acquitted through a retrial.

‘The longest-serving death row inmate cleared at age 88... His 91-year-old sister fought to prove his innocence [Japan Human Side]’

However, even though he was acquitted, it became known that Hakamada was unable to live a normal life due to delusional disorder and other mental health issues caused by his long imprisonment, which once again sparked debate over the death penalty.

Strong public support for the death penalty... But controversy continues

The Japanese Ministry of Justice cites public opinion as the basis for maintaining the death penalty. There is still strong support for its retention. Minister Suzuki also emphasized at the press conference, "As a nation governed by the rule of law, we must strictly enforce finalized court rulings," and "The majority of public opinion believes the death penalty for heinous criminals is unavoidable. Abolishing the death penalty is not appropriate." In fact, after Hakamada's retrial, a Cabinet Office poll conducted from October to December last year showed that support for abolishing the death penalty rose by 7.5 percentage points compared to the previous survey, but still only reached 16.5 percent. The view that the death penalty is necessary remains dominant.

With this execution, the number of death row inmates held in Japanese detention centers has reached 105. Of these, 49 have filed for retrial or a new trial. Interviews with victims’ families and acquaintances were also reported at the time of the execution. Some said, "The dead will not return just because the execution has been carried out, so this cannot be considered the end. The perpetrator should have lived and paid for his crimes," which sparked further debate.

For these reasons, every time an execution is carried out, and every year on October 10, which is World Day Against the Death Penalty, controversy over the death penalty continues in Japan. What are your thoughts?