Iwao Hakamada retracted ‘confession’ alleging it was made under duress and police violence 

In 2023, 107 of the 115 people on death row had their death sentences finalised putting them at risk of execution

Authorities must review all existing death sentences and abolish the death penalty

‘We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again’ - Boram Jang

Responding to the acquittal of Japanese man Iwao Hakamada, who spent more than 45 years on death row, Boram Jang, Amnesty International’s East Asia Researcher, said:

"We are overjoyed by the court's decision to exonerate Iwao Hakamada. After enduring almost half a century of wrongful imprisonment and a further 10 years waiting for his retrial, this verdict is an important recognition of the profound injustice he endured for most of his life. It ends an inspiring fight to clear his name by his sister Hideko and all those who supported him.

“As we celebrate this long overdue day of justice for Hakamada, we are reminded of the irreversible harm caused by the death penalty. We strongly urge Japan to abolish the death penalty to prevent this from happening again.

“Japanese authorities must also review all existing death sentences, particularly when there are concerns of mental and intellectual disabilities. Only complete abolition of capital punishment will ensure that such grave errors are never repeated, and people not irreversibly and arbitrarily deprived of their lives.

“Amnesty International will continue to push for the abolition of the death penalty and for reforms that ensure fairness and justice for all.”

Japan’s death row

During his first trial Hakamada was convicted of murdering his employer and his employer’s family, largely based on a forced “confession” made after 20-days of interrogation which Hakamada retracted during the trial, alleging police had threatened and beaten him. He was sentenced to death by Shizuoka District Court in 1968 and spent more than 45 years on death row.

Japan has continued to carry out executions, including of people who had judicial appeals pending, in violation of international safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty. As of 31 December 2023, 107 out of the 115 people on death row had their death sentences finalised and were at risk of execution.

Those on death row continue to be held in solitary confinement and in the absence of effective safeguards or transparent regular psychiatric evaluations - people with mental health and intellectual disabilities continue to be subjected to the death penalty in violation of international law and standards. The last execution in Japan was carried out on 26 July 2022.

Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual, or of the method used by the state to carry out the execution.