Wrongful Convictions in Japan
I would like to regularly introduce to the international community the issues surrounding wrongful investigations and the flawed judicial system in Japan. Currently, there is a case drawing significant attention and scrutiny in Japan—the Hakamada case.
First, I want to provide an overview of the Hakamada case. It is important for people outside of Japan to understand what is happening in the Japanese judicial system today. Despite the presence of such an incredibly flawed judicial system and wrongful investigations in Japan, and despite the high public interest in these matters, the situation remains unchanged. Why is this so?
“The Hakamada Case”
I want to share the details and outcomes of the Hakamada case, involving former death row inmate Iwao Hakamada, with an international audience. This is a case where the police and prosecution fabricated the case details and evidence in an attempt to execute an innocent man. Currently, Mr. Hakamada is…
“Pressance Case”
The Pressance case involved a lawsuit against Shinobu Yamagishi, the former representative director of Pressance Corporation, a major real estate company, for embezzling funds from the sale of land belonging to a school corporation. However, the Osaka District Court acquitted Yamagishi in the first trial, drawing significant attention.
The main point of contention was whether Yamagishi was involved in the embezzlement, particularly whether he had the intent or conspired to embezzle when he lent the money. Yamagishi claimed that he believed he was lending the money to the school corporation and had no intention of embezzling.
The prosecution argued that Yamagishi was involved in the embezzlement, primarily based on the testimonies of employee K of Pressance Corporation and representative director Y of a real estate management company. However, the credibility of K and Y’s testimonies was significantly shaken during the trial. In particular, there were allegations of undue pressure exerted by the prosecutor during the interrogation, casting doubt on the reliability of their statements.
The Osaka District Court ruled that the testimonies of K and Y were not credible and acquitted Yamagishi. This verdict exposed problems within Japan’s criminal justice system, sparking social discussions about the methods of prosecutorial interrogations and the evaluation of evidence.
The Presans case has once again highlighted the possibility of wrongful convictions and issues with prosecutorial interrogation methods in Japan’s criminal justice system. In light of this case, there is a growing demand for reforms to the criminal justice system, including prosecutorial reforms, the establishment of systems to prevent wrongful convictions, and improvements in the transparency of the judiciary.
“The Winny Case”
Nearly a quarter of a century ago, a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) program called Winny was released. The developer, Isamu Kaneko, distributed Winny for free and was subsequently arrested for copyright infringement. P2P technology is a foundational technology for blockchain and is also the backbone of music streaming services. Kaneko, the developer who advanced P2P technology to a practical level and distributed it freely worldwide, contributing to technological innovation, was arrested in Japan, vilified by the media, and publicly regarded as a criminal.
Other Cases: Livedoor, Mitsui Kan Case, and Carlos Ghosn Case
Of course, wrongful convictions exist around the world, but Japan may have an especially low regard for human rights. Although Japan joined the ranks of developed countries after World War II and led democracy in East Asia, political corruption, bureaucratic overreach, and the concentration of power have resulted in the trampling of human rights. I want people around the world to be aware of this fact.
While the Livedoor case, Mitsui Kan case, and Carlos Ghosn case are not officially classified as wrongful convictions, I, along with many other citizens, believe they are. In Japan, there is a saying, “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down,” reflecting a culture where those who stand out or become wealthy are often pulled down by others. Unfortunately, this tendency is still evident in modern Japan. If things were different, there could be hundreds of times more world-leading companies. However, it seems clear that the central powers in Japan do not permit this.
Comments