crime

Death row inmate hanged; 6th execution since Abe became PM

64 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© 2013 AFP

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

64 Comments
Login to comment

Rest In Pieces Convict.

-14 ( +10 / -24 )

Yay! The less scum the merrier.

-10 ( +13 / -23 )

Apart from the United States, Japan is the only major industrialised democracy to use capital punishment.

South Korea? Taiwan? Singapore is not the biggest country in terms of population, but its economy is in the top 40 (usually #35 or 36 in overall nominal GDP rankings).

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Hanging is pretty harsh. Haven't the JGov ever heard of lethal injection?

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Hanging is pretty harsh.

so i shooting someone in the course of a robbery.

8 ( +17 / -9 )

Great news this should deter further crime and finally we will see an end to all crime in Japan. It's worked so well in America too because the death penalty has deterred so many criminals.

7 ( +17 / -10 )

Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to put this page together. It's a sad read.

http://www.jiadep.org/Chart-DeathRow_files/page481_1.html

As for Mr Kumagai, it says he was originally sentenced to life imprisonment (which is usually the case for a single murder), but the "death sentence was imposed on appeal". That must have been hard for him and his family.

RIP old timer. You made some mistakes in life. Let's hope things go better in the next.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Too bad that Yaks can't be excecuted simply for being Yaks. I do have issues with the death penalty in general and its practice in Japan in particular (forced confessions, years in solitary confinement), but for Yaks who make a living of human suffering (regardless of their PR BS), I'll happily be a hypocrite.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

@Cricky: Nice sarcastic post. The death penalty does not act as a deterrent. But what it does do is eliminate the chances of convicts becoming repeat offenders. Released for whatever reason, and committing crime again usually more heinous than before. Read about this happening so many times that it's pathetic that countries don't put down murderers, rapists, phedofiles, etc etc.....

Congrats to the USA and Japan for doing what is RIGHT and putting down these sickos!!

No forgiveness here.

-12 ( +9 / -21 )

Yeah! Death to the phedofiles!

And the language-murderers!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Neither the US nor Japan execute rapists or paedophiles. The death penalty's so last-century in most of the civilised world....

1 ( +11 / -10 )

South Korea? Taiwan? Singapore is not the biggest country in terms of population, but its economy is in the top 40 (usually #35 or 36 in overall nominal GDP rankings).

South Korea hands out death sentences but hasn't executed anyone on death row in 16 years.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

They would not dare kill any on death row until the Olympics was secured. There must be dozens crapping themselves on death row now.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

The death penalty's so last-century in most of the civilised world....

If you have money they can put them in your house instead of executing if you want to keep the scum alive and waste money!

0 ( +12 / -12 )

They would not dare kill any on death row until the Olympics was secured. There must be dozens crapping themselves on death row now.

Really? this was the 6th execution this year, as indicated in the very large headline. That means 5 other executions occurred this year before the games were secured. Apparently the IOC isn't bothered by them. But then neither am I.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

A life for a life give closure to the families affected by the murderers action. I also agree with Japan not giving any notice to the condemned of the date and time. It puts them in the same spot the put their victims in.

-1 ( +7 / -9 )

@akihase

That assertion is an excellent example of wooly, illogical thinking. Consider the victim's situation, consider the condemned's situation.

Very different.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Some criminals just deserve to be wiped off the face of the Earth.

5 ( +13 / -8 )

Crime and executions are both rising? I'm confused as I thought it was meant to be a deterant.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

People on here cheering the state endorsed murder of an elderly man would do well to consider if they trust the state with the power of life and death. Personally, I wouldn't trust them to run a p1ss up in a brewery.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

state sanctioned murder... massive step forward Abe! You're really showing 'em what you're made of!

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

I wonder, how many of those sitting on the death row in Japan, have been wrongly convicted and sentenced to death by the state. How many till now, have been hanged by the state wrongly? That is the worry shared by all, I would hope.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

At first I thought: 73? They hung a 73 year old guy? But then I realized he committed the crime when he was 64...

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Speaking of the death penalty, anybody heard any news about the Akihabara stabber?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The death penalty is a hang-over from barbaric times.

Supporters of the death penalty are prepared to see innocent people killed to satisfy their primitive lust for revenge.

The death penalty is no deterrent, nor is the prevention of re-offending a justification, since the alternative is that prisoners who are considered to be dangerous should never be released.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

@ Taik, We support the rule of law. You and others on here support its wrong to support rules, with exception its OK for convicted murders. The rule of law is the only thing that makes developed countries civilized.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

It was a debate a while ago. Death penalty is not cheaper then life imprisonment. So it was told. Nevertheless if the law in a country gives death penalty for certain crimes, so be it. Nobody needs to commit those crimes, right? Nobody has to murder somebody. So if you think it's OK and you know what follows is ultimate punishment...no need for crying.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hakamada san probably wishes he is next!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Death sentence is just hard core revenge. Nothing to do with justice.

In modern justice the crime is mostly decoupled from the victim's situation. The intention and act is punished, regardless of the victim's situation. Otherwise anyone who kills someone else (e.g. car accident) would deserve a death penalty, because the pain is the same.

Needless to say the deterrent effect is zero. To kill somebody, something is going really wrong in your head and thinking about death penalty at the time you commit the crime is most likely the last thing you would think about.

8 ( +9 / -1 )

For all those braying about how wonderful this is, just google Johnny Frank Garret, David Spence, Timothy Evans or Cameron Willingham. All innocent men executed by the government.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

For the sake of one innocent man on death row, I would spare 100 criminals. That innocent one could have been me,you or someone's cherished person

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@change

Quite right.

Supporters of the death penalty either can't understand that vital point, or are brutal enough to accept the deaths of innocents.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Hilarious!

Capital punishment is cruel because the inmates may serve years in prison in solitary confinement, and are only notified hours before their execution. - Most of the victims of these murderers received notification only seconds before there death, and they were unable to say goodbye to love ones...

0 ( +4 / -4 )

If we kill someone, even if we think that person deserves it, we will be always fearing that maybe we became killers too.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

You do what needs to be done in order to keep society safe. Removing a sick piece of flesh from the body that has become infected so it does not harm the rest is common practice. I see no difference in removing what is not needed in order to protect what is still good and clean.

-1 ( +5 / -7 )

soo i see all these bitching and complaining about the death penatly but what are some solution to fix these problems?

"The death penalty is a hang-over from barbaric times.

Supporters of the death penalty are prepared to see innocent people killed to satisfy their primitive lust for revenge.

The death penalty is no deterrent, nor is the prevention of re-offending a justification, since the alternative is that prisoners who are considered to be dangerous should never be released."

ok then what do you suggest? How are you going to prevent this murderes from mudering again? all I see is a bunch of complains with no solution. Are you going to house these people in your home and "re-form" them with your own money? If not then you should shut up. All you people who have no solution should shut up. These are laws for a reason, If you dont like them, then do something about it!. No one can predict if the person did it or not, Innocents are punished , and the wrong do'er are sometimes let go. Its not always 100%, I know that . I, myself dont have a solution to that but if the person is Truly convicted of the crime then he should be put to death. Murder is a pre-meditated plan. Person is willing known they are about to convict this act. They are Adults and know what is right from wrong, they choose to do wrong. I agree on capital punishment, i'll be waiting for responds to solution and not any bitching on why capital punishment" is Inhumane or "cruel" thats from a moral stand point. now if one of these convicted murders ,killed one of your family, realitives, love ones, son or daughter. Let see on how you want to let it carry throught. I wanna see you "re-form" these convict or support the no death penatly. Pay out of your own pocket to let them live.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Are you going to house these people in your home and "re-form" them with your own money? If not then you should shut up. All you people who have no solution should shut up.

Well it all depends on your point of view. Should the purpose of prison be to punish, or reform, or some mixture of both? Killing the prisoners obviously takes the former view. I am of the latter. People make mistakes - yes, even murder. Some people truly regret the decisions they have made in the past. I don't think it is right to kill someone who is truly sorry for the crimes he has committed.

Pay out of your own pocket to let them live.

But you'd happily pay to see them die? Which is what you and I, and all the taxpayers are doing.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@papasmurfinjapan:

You said " I don't think it is right to kill someone who is truly sorry for the crimes he has committed."

Well....I do. They should have thought of the consequences before they acted. That's plan ole common sense and common decency to your fellow man which all of these Scum bags didn't show to their victims while murdering them..robbing them of their life. Oh but wait, now they are so sorry for what they did, they've discovered Jesus, and Jesus has forgiven them so they think in that twisted place they call a brain. LOL! Everything is fine now.....right????

I say so freaking what?? Put 'em down.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

There is evidence to show that the death penalty is not a deterrent but results in an increase in violent crime in Japan, by measuring incidence rates after death penalties have been carried out, finding that more violent crime is committed in the period after executions.

http://www.hss.ocha.ac.jp/psych/socpsy/sakamoto/media/2003-2004/capital%20punishment%20text.pdf

It is true that the death penalty prevents further crime when released and several of those on papasmurfinjapan's list (thanks) committed their crime while on parole for "Life" imprisonment http://www.jiadep.org/Chart-DeathRow_files/page481_1.html

Bearing in mind the crime encouraging or crime-catalytic effect of the death penalty however, it is a shame that Japan does not have a literal lifelong incarceration sentence.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

mistakes for murdering someone? They know better, on whats right and wrong .If thats the case , I can go out there and just slain people and then spend time and be "trurly" sorry about doing it all. Heck i bet half the people on here would do the same, but you know what? they don't be cause THEY KNOW ITS WRONG. What done is done. Mistakes? yes , but it was a choice and these are the consequences.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I say so freaking what?? Put 'em down.

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. I hope you don't expect any mercy when you screw up.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

choices have consequences, its simple as that. Heck, if i murder someone, I deserve it. I made the choice knowing it was wrong and should be punished for it.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@papsmurfinJapan:

You again said: I hope you don't expect any mercy when you screw up.

Your definition of screwing up is warped. Murder is not 'Screwing up.'

The death penalty is about how to punish the cold blooded murder of innocents. That my friend is what I support it for. Someone who mercilessly kills. And so what if after 5 years in jail they regret what they did. As the poster above said, "what's done is done." Now it's time to pay the Piper.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@ The Chronic,

So you're all for mercy and rehabilitation of other criminals, just not murderers? Is that correct?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@papasmurfinJapan:

Firstly I believe that the majority of hardened criminals can't be rehabilitated. Statistics show that upwards of 77% of criminals serving time are repeat offenders. I also believe that jail is for punishment of crime, not for attempted rehabilitation of criminals. If a criminal is truly sorry for their crime, they don't need to be rehabilitated, they need to serve whatever punishment is handed out to them for the severity of the crime they committed with dignity, reflecting on what they have done. If they aren't sorry, then no amount of rehabilitation will do any good IMO.

In the case of capital crimes....well too late for them.

I have said in other threads that I would support the Death Sentence for other crimes such as rape, and especially most any crime perpetrated against children. But to say all the crimes I just mentioned deserve an automatic death sentence is jumping the gun. Case by case.

All just my opinion of course.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ The Chronic,

Thanks for the serious post. I think once we get past the emotions, we are more on the same page than our posts portray. I agree with the majority of what you say. I'm not suggesting criminals get off scot free, or even with lenient sentences. If it was my child that was murdered in cold blood, I would want to see the murderer subject to the full force of the law, no matter how much they said sorry - But I wouldn't seek the death penalty for them. I'd prefer to see them in life imprisonment. If they rehabilitate in prison, then great. If not, so be it.

The problem here is, in Japan, there is no life imprisonment without parole. So if there were only the two options between seeing my child's killer walk free in 10-15 years on parole, or the death penalty, then I'd have to really think hard about that one. I certainly wouldn't want to see them on the streets again so soon, but at the same time I wouldn't rejoice in their death, though I presume it would at least bring more "closure" than knowing my child's killer was living a free life.

What I really hope for is judicial reform. As the system stands, the victims families are really between a rock and hard place.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

There was some jerkweed who killed several kids, I forgot who he was, but in the courtroom he told the family of the victims that he masturbated every day to the memory of what he'd done. That's one argument in favor of the death penalty right there -- removing not just life, but every joy that life holds (fapping, enjoyment of food) by the state.

That said, there are HUGE problems with how Japan assigns guilt often out of convenience (the police arrested Mr. Suzuki, so clearly he must be guilty, keep interrogating him and he'll eventually admit his crime) to not using tools like DNA testing enough to prove innocence.

If you're ever accused of something in Japan DO NOT ADMIT TO IT, NO MATTER WHAT.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Death penalty is not punishment or revenge, it's recognizing that it isn't society's responsibility to reform garbage by any means possible. Taking out the trash. Even if cheaper, indefinite imprisonment always carries a risk that someone will escape or affect society from within prison. (Look at the White Supremacist league (and many other crime networks) running their business as usual even though nearly all their higher level members are incarcerated.)

However, I also find the Japanese judical system slightly rickety and don't really trust them to handle this properly.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@papasmurfin japan:

Being a father of two kids myself, I can understand your thinking. My problem is this, someone's child gets murdered. The courts ask, as many do, the victims family's opinion on punishment. The family says they are against the death penalty. The criminal serves, lets say 15 years. Gets out. Then.......he kills another child. And this happens a lot. How could that family live with themselves knowing that because they rejected the death sentence, another child is dead, another families life is over???

For me, and I can only speak for me. The answer is No Way! I'll take the death penalty and I'll learn to live with any guilt I may have for asking that the murderer gets put down.

What's done is done and the death penalty makes sure that the sicko doesn't do it again to someone else.

And there are some sickos out there that I would rejoice in seeing get put down. Good ole Charley Manson comes to mind. The recent Boston marathon bomber fits the bill.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You can't rectify an alleged heinous crime by a slowly-executed , arbitrary hanging...and it's not the next best thing to bringing back to life the former victim(s). It is blatant ,state-sponsored, cruel-and-unusual punishment of the same crime ilk as those like Eichmann and Engels committed. Five die under Abe without a whisper in the public tells you that the sadistic killer-robots of Japan's brutal past have inbred ancestors at work in 2013.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I didn't know that there was stull some counties that still using hanging. Honestly I don't feel bad for the old guy, he killed someone, he destroyed a family and for what? Obviously nothing. I'm ok with the death penality. I know if we executed the prisons would have issues of over crowding.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The government put down a 73 year criminal while a sickness still breathes.

And Shoko Asahara still breathes......How sad that is............

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are problems with the death penalty and some of these require an understanding of what humanity is and also the mysteries of how the mind works.

There are also other reasons for being against the death penalty. One is that we should not give the state power of life over death in any matter. The state can easily change this to more minor crimes with possibly less evidence required and the people often go along with this in times of national emergency or war.

It is possible that a person is wrongfully convicted and this can happen even with forensic evidence pointing to guilt.

Another possibility is that we may find a scientific reason why some commit acts we call evil and we understand that the brain was not functioning in a correct manner and the criminal was not fully to blame for his actions due to this.

I had a close friend murdered in front of me in 1995 and have never and will never wish that the killer is killed by the state.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The Death Penalty is just WRONG on a few counts. First it is in the hands of humans, prone to error, and despite ever evolving forensics, some cases are being reviewed upon discovery that the science used wasn't reliable in convicting someone. Second, humans are prone to corruption, whether the corruption be greed or just covering for a person you care about, there certainly are cases wherein all that takes place.

All in all, we can't apologize to a man already dead. The death penalty is irreversible. At least with life without parole, were it discovered that a man wee wrongly convicted, he could be released and get back a semblance of his former life.

The death penalty upon review by a conservative in America shows that the death penalty hasn't deterred crimes, and that crime declined since the state he's in has not carried out a death sentence. More on that can be found at the Death Penalty Information Center.

It costs A LOT more to carry out a death penalty due to appeals, but if we speed up the process, we increase the margin that we'll send an innocent to their death.

It's just much simpler, much more flexible in fixing wrongful convictions, and costs much less to do away with the death penalty and sentence murderers to life without parole.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Let's go toi thé Godwin point, Hitler should ne given Nice meals and have people happy with that. No responsibility no society, no punishment no avancement.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ The Chronic (and Peter Payne)

I think you both offer good examples of what it must be like from a victim's family's perspective. It is impossible for armchair critics such as myself to arbitrarily declare the death penalty "wrong" under all circumstances, especially when we are working within a broken system. If however, Japan were to change the law to life imprisonment without parole instead of the death penalty, then I would gladly welcome that change.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And these people were hanged via forced confessions and not much else evidence...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

RE: Major Industrialized Democracies. Russia is a Federated Republic, very big in Industry, and another country with the Death Penalty. Like the Chinese, they prefer the pistol for their executions.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Wow now we live in time, to condemn people to their death, so much for freedumb!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

"Hanging is pretty harsh"

Yeah, in the words of Clint Eastwood, "It's a hell of a thing killing a man. You take away everything he's got, and everything he's ever going to have."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

73 years old hmm no mercy?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The ChronicSep. 13, 2013 - 02:35PM JST Firstly I believe that the majority of hardened criminals can't be rehabilitated. Statistics show that upwards of 77% of criminals serving time are repeat offenders.

... of course most offenders repeat. They go into prison petty criminals, but must then join a prison gang or face daily rape, physical assaults and the possibility of a shiv in the back. To someone serving 6 months for shoplifting it seems like a good deal. Of course now they're hanging out with criminals all day, who talk about their techniques, their experiences, etc. It becomes a "training camp". And being a gang member isn't "free", they're required to commit crimes to stay protected by the gang in the prison.

They walk in a shoplifter, they walk out a murderer, drug pusher, etc.

I also believe that jail is for punishment of crime, not for attempted rehabilitation of criminals. If a criminal is truly sorry for their crime, they don't need to be rehabilitated,

Being sorry does not give them skills they need to get a job, nor does it give them a positive social circle who will encourage them in going straight, nor does it help them overcome their backgrounds and psychological issues that predispose them to crime.

Focusing on punishment does no good for anyone, most especially the victims of repeat offenders.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Having someone on death row for 47 years is obscene.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So presumably all those in favour of the death penalty would also support the execution of police ,jury and judiciary in those cases where the state kills some one who then later turns out to be innocent, as they them selves are now guilty of murder and should be subject to the same law .

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites