Alan Harrison comments

1 million yen is pathetic. Japanese can demand at least 80 times that amount when the situation is reversed.

The thing that astounds me regarding rule of law in Japan, is that judges just seem to listen and rubber stamp the prosecutor tather than follow any logical thought, or show any common sense.

The UK (unlike Japan) has always welcomed genuine refugees compassionately. There is a difference between genuine refugees and illegal immigrants.

$$$ is what it's all about in the system here. By paying any compensation, he is also admitting he is at fault for their deaths.

The compensation paid was probably exorbitant, and more than what a Japanese national would be expected to pay. Japan's hostage justice system likes to rip off foreigners, especially Westerners. I sometimes wonder why the USA bothers defending such a country.

@ReasonandWisdomNippon

When you say "we" I assume that you are referring to Japanese. Well, I am sorry to inform you that some Japanese do follow the rules of other countries when they are there. However, other countries treat these Japanese criminals with the same legal rights under rule of law as their own nationals. Sorry, but having observed the case of Ghosn, Japan does'nt.

In the case of Ghosn, and probably many other cases, the police and prosecutors behaved in a disgraceful manner (by illegally detaining him re. United Nations report). Judges behaved like imbeciles. Using trackers is a positive move because now police and prosecutors will have to do their jobs properly and judges will have to behave like judges, and not pathetic little puppets. Ghosn should be applauded and thanked by all for helping bringing about this much needed change. (Although there is still s long way to go in reforming it's disgraceful legal system, and standards of law and justice ie. Rule of Law).

He stole from his own town people because that money was suppose to be intended to help everyone out. He can forget about finding a job in that town again. Who would hire a thief and gambler?

Who would want to live in a town with such an incompetent town council. Perhaps some IT training required. He did not technically steal the money, it was put into his bank account. No intent, no Mens Rea, no crime (except under Japan,'s third rate legal system). Maybe he should get a job with the town council and shape the place up. (Revert back to issuing cheques, it's always safer for everybody).

I actually feel sorry for him, and hope that his appeal is successful. I just don't like seeing the big boys using a little boy as a scapegoat for their own incompetence. No doubt, the judge was just rubber stamping the "morally superior" public prosecutor.

The UK Royals are completely dysfunctional and should be retired

Some UK Royals ate dysfunctional and should be retired off, along with their titles, leaving a fresh, modern, functional Monarchy fit for the 21st century. I think that King Charles 3 will do a splendid job.

With such a lack of discipline in an army of so called peace keepers, Japans SDF should not be sent overseas until it puts it's house in order.

This is a common problem that plagues all militaries around the world. Not just Japan.

Maybe it does. But a professional military (such as in my native country) have proper disciplinary procedures to investigate such incidents, whether internal or external. Japans SDF would seem to mirror Japan's civilian legal system, ie. Not fit for purpose. One thing I have always noticed about Japan. When faced with a new unprecedented situation, there is an appalling lack of self control.

With such a lack of discipline in an army of so called peace keepers, Japans SDF should not be sent overseas until it puts it's house in order. If SDF personnel behave this way towards it's own colleagues and comrades how will they have towards others overseas. Let's not forget Nanking.

In my experience, police officers in Japan are, generally speaking, poorly trained. (although I have had some very good experiences with them in the past).

The real point of the delay seems reasonable. It takes more than 24 hours to study 8,000, pages of document. In Japan it can take years for minor cases to come to court (if the defendant does not confess). Japan likes to be thorough. So do the French.

I think that the problem is : Japan is constantly urging the international community to do this and that, but does very little itself.

Japan is, if I recall correctly, the second largest donator of foreign aid in the world after America.

So yeah, back in reality, they actually do quite a bit.

The reality regarding aid to Ukraine is, Japan ranks tenth, behind the US, EU, UK, Germany, Canada, Poland, France, Netherlands, and Norway.

Nobody takes Japan serious, outside of Japan

Much of the world outside Japan takes Japan seriously.

I think that the problem is : Japan is constantly urging the international community to do this and that, but does very little itself.

Seems to me that Japan and China actually have a lot in common.

Please. Please. After these two trash are convicted - hang them ASAP.

Not a single tear will be shed.

Agree with your sentiments entirely. The more I think about it though, maybe executing them is just too easy for them. Give them a 90 year prison term, and let them slowly rot, would in some ways be more of a punishment to them.

Zepeda when he losses the appeal needs to give up what he did with the victim.

His conviction has not lost the appeal yet. Like Japan, he has the right to appeal under French law within French jurisdiction. If his conviction is quashed, I would sincerely hope that he gives up what he did with the victim.

Japan seems to be reverting back to self isolation.

This is only a minor legal technicality with a short delay. Why is this even news?

An optional protocol against torture and degrading treatment, which Australia is a signatory to, allows for SPT to visit prisons, police stations and other detention centers unannounced.

Has Japan signed up to this? If not, Japan seriously needs to.

You missed out on the most important bit for Japanese children to learn; Japan allowed it's military to commit widespread suffering within Japan and throughout the Asia Pacific region and has done very little in the way of compensation and sincere remorse since.

Yes you are correct, everything written in Japan regarding the atomic bombing, including the museum is one sided.

Maybe a school trip to Hubei Provence in China where the is a museum citing the atrocities of Unit 731 should be considered in the future.

Just give it to the children straight without cartoons : Japan started a war, surrendered after two atomic bombs were dropped, and given a new constitution. That's about it. If the children want to know more, then there's a museum in town giving more details.

People usually express their opinion based on observation and evidence. Opinion polls indicate that unlike before, the political attitudes of younger people are not becoming more conservative as they get older. The number of young people with a positive attitude towards the British royal family now is half of what it was in 2015 ( 60% vs. 30%).

I would be very interested to see the source of these "polls".

Allen Harrison...

I believe that the cost of the late Queen Elizabeth 2 funeral was 11 million.

No, I think 11 million was the amount the Queen had to pay to keep Prince Andrew from pedo charges in a US court.

Yes, it was the cost of the funeral. But anyway, back on topic, I think that Andrew Lloyd Webber is a good choice.

Whatever goodwill they once had, for most British subjects (at home or overseas) this is long gone.

Interesting to see that the commentator has the time to evaluate the personal opinion of a good few million people.

The cost of the queen's funeral was more than £1 billion and the cost of this will be more than another #1 billion. Food banks closing down because they can't pay their energy bills.

I believe that the cost of the late Queen Elizabeth 2 funeral was 11 million. King Charles 3 has already indicated that his Coronation will be scaled down, to reflect hard times.

Waste of public money

@Wallace. If you live in Japan, it's not your problem, is it?

The best compromise in my opinion is to do what they did with the 1936. Olympic Stadium in Berlin. It was kept, but revamped.

Japans so-called Ministry of Justice has been a monster out of control for many years. To be the law is to be above the law. Staff on the lower levels ie. Detention centres are arbitrary, get a little bit of power, it just goes to their heads. Generally speaking, judges are imbeciles. To equate a detained foreigner to national security shows that Japans MOJ has serious echo's of the 1930's.