"Death by Execution and Death by Incarceration"
Two Charts Below
1) Recent Executions 2005~Present
2) Recent Deaths in Prison
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MOST RECENT EXECUTIONS
2013
Feb 21= 3 Hangings
April 26 = 2 Hangings
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Past Statistics
2012 7 Hangings
2011 NO Hangings
2010 2 hangings
2009 7 hangings
2008 15 hangings (Highest Total in 33 years.)
2007 9 hangings
2006 4 hangings (Christmas Day Hangings)
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Name (last/first) Age at time of death
Place of Execution Date of Hanging ////////////////////// Sentencing Dates & Court |
Case Name Date of Incident Accused's D.O.B. |
Notes |
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Miyagi Yoshihide 宮城吉英 Executed 13/04/26 ~~~~~ 09/06/15 SC 06/10/05 Tokyo HC 05/12/12 Chiba DC |
Double Yakuza Murders 05/04/25 b. 1956 |
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Hamasaki Katsuji 浜崎勝次 b. 1948 Executed 13/04/26 ~~~~~ 11/12/15 SC 08/09/26 Tokyo HC 07/10/26 Chiba DC |
Double Yakuza Chief Murder 2005/04/25 |
Co-defendant with Miyagi Yoshihide. A third conspirator committed suicide. |
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武藤恵喜 Kano Kei-ichi (Previous name was Muto.) Nagoya
13/02/21 Executed ~~~~~~ 07/03/22 SC 04/01/23 Nagoya HC 03/02/22 Nagoya DC L.I. |
Nagoya Night Club Owner Murder 名古屋スナック 経営者殺人事件 02/03/14 b. 1949 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Previous name was Kano. Previously sentenced to 15 years for a separate crime. |
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Kobayashi Kaoru 小林薫 Osaka 13/02/21 Executed ~~~~~ 08/04/26 Finalized 06/09/26 Nara DC |
Nara Child Molestation Murder 奈良わいせつ殺人事件 04/11/17 b. 1969 |
Death sentence for a single case of murder is extraordinary. Sentence finalized after defendant withdrew appeal. |
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Kanagawa Masahiro 金川真大 b. 1983 〜〜〜 13/02/21 Executed 〜〜〜〜 10/01/05(?) SC 09/12/18 Mito DC |
ＪＲ荒川沖駅通り魔事件等 Ibaraki Murder (x1) and JR Station Random Stabbings 2008/March 19 & 23 |
Sentence confirmed after defendant withdraws appeals. |
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Eto Sachiko (F) 江藤幸子 b. 1947 12/09/27 Executed ~~~~~~~ 08/09/16 SC 05/11/22 Sendai HC 02/05/10 Fukushima DC |
Sukagawa Exorcist Deaths(x6) 須賀川信者6人変死事件 Dec '94 June '95 |
The defendant's mental competence is in dispute by experts. Co-conspirators received lesser sentences. ( More ) |
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Matsuda Yukinori 松田幸則 12/09/27 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 09/04/03 Appeal Abandoned 07/10/03 Fukuoka HC 06/09/21 Kumamoto DC |
Uki City Double Murder & Robbery 熊本城市男女２人 強盗殺人事件 2003/10 b. 1973 |
Sentence confirmed upon abandonment of appeal. |
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Hattori Junya 服部純也 Tokyo 12/08/03 Executed ~~~~~~~ 08/02/29 SC 05/03/29 Tokyo HC 04/01/15 Shizuoka DC Life Imprisonment. |
Mishima College Student Burning Murder 三島短大生 焼刹事件 02/01/23 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. |
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Matsumura Kyozo 松村恭造 b. 1981 Osaka 12/08/03 Executed 〜〜〜〜 08/04/08 SC 08/03/17 Kyoto DC |
Murder/Robbery of Two Relatives |
Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. [ More ] |
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Furusawa Tomoyuki 古沢友幸 b. 65/04/07 Tokyo 12/03/29 Executed 〜〜〜〜 07/11/16 SC 05/05/24 Tokyo HC 04/03/30 Tokyo DC |
Yokohama Family Stabbing Murder(x3) 横浜一家三人 刺殺事件 02/07/31 |
( More ) |
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Matsuda Yasutoshi 松田康敏 b. 1967 Miyazaki 12/03/29 Executed 〜〜〜〜 07/02/07 SC 04/05/21 Fukuoka HC Miyazaki Branch 03/01/24 Miyazaki DC |
Miyazaki Women (x2) Robbery & Murder Case 宮崎２女性強盗 殺人事件 01/11/25~12/07 |
Admitted the charges and apologized for the case. |
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Uwabe Yasuaki 上部康明 b, 64/03/06 Hiroshima 12/03/29 Executed 〜〜〜〜 08/07/11 SC 05/06/28 Hiroshima HC 02/09/20 Yamaguchi DC Shimoseki Branch |
Shimonoseki Station Multiple Murders (x5) & injuries (10) 下関駅５人殺害 １０人傷害事件 99/09/29 |
Defendant's psychological condition is in dispute by experts. |
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Ogata Hidenori 尾形英紀 b. 1978 10/07/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 07/07/25 SC 07/04/26 Saitama DC |
Kumagai Double Murder and Injury 熊谷４人殺傷事件 03/08/18 |
Sentence finalized after defendant withdrew appeal. [ MORE ] |
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Shinozawa Kazuo 篠沢一男 Tokyo 10/07/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 07/02/20 SC 03/04/23 Tokyo HC 02/03/19 Utsunomiya DC |
Utsunomiya Jewelry Store Multiple (x6) Murder 宇都宮宝石店 ６人殺人事件 00/06/11 |
Appeals case finished in 90 minutes. |
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Chen Detong 陳徳通 Tokyo 09/07/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 06/06/27 SC 03/02/20 Tokyo HC 01/09/17 Yokohama DC |
Chinese Multiple Murders (x3) 川崎中国人３人 殺人事件 |
Chinese national. Alleges major mistakes made in trial. |
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Maeue Hiroshi 前上博 b. 1969 09/07/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 07/07/05 SC 07/03/28 Osaka DC |
Osaka Suicide Website Triple Murders インタネット自殺 サイト連続殺人事件 |
Sentence finalized after defendant abandoned appeal. |
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Yamaji Yukio 山地悠紀夫 09/07/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 07/06/01 SC 06/12/13 Osaka DC |
Osaka Sisters Murder Robbery Rape Case b. 1983 |
Crime committed while on release from a reformatory. Sentence confirmed after defendant abandoned appeal. [ More ] |
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Makino Tadashi 牧野正 Fukuoka 09/01/29 Executed ~~~~~~~ 93/11/16 Appeal abandoned 93/10/27 Fukuoka DC (Kokura Branch) |
Kita-Kyushu Family Murder 北九州母娘殺人事件 90/03 b. 1950/03/18 |
Crime committed while on parole from a life term. Sentence confirmed upon abandonment of appeal. Retrial request filed by attorneys. Executed despite professional acknowledgement of a mental handicap. |
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Kawamura Yukiya 川村 幸也 Nagoya 09/01/29 Executed ~~~~~~~ 06/06/09 SC 03/03/12 Nagoya HC 02/02/21 Nagoya DC |
Drum Container Women (x2) Murder ２女性ドラム岳 殺人事件 00/04/04 b. 1964 |
Of the four accomplices, two received life terms (prosecution demanded death.) |
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Nomura Tetsuya 野村哲也 Nagoya 09/01/29 Executed ~~~~~~~ 06/06/09 SC 03/03/12 Nagoya HC 02/02/21 Nagoya DC |
Same as above b. 1972 |
Of the four accomplices, two received life terms(death was demanded.) |
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Nishimoto Shojiro 西本正二郎 09/01/29 Executed ~~~~~~~ 07/01/11 SC 06/05/17 Nagano DC |
Quadruple Elderly Robbery Murders 長野・愛知 ４人強盗・殺人事件 04/01~09 b. 1977 |
Sentence confirmed after defendant abandons appeal. Execution two years after confirmation is quite rare. |
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Takashio Masahiro 高塩正裕 Sendai 08/10/28 Executed ~~~~~~~~ 06/12/20 SC 06/12/05 Sendai HC 06/03/22 Sendai DC L.I. |
Iwaki City Mother Daughter Murders いわき市母娘強 盗殺人事件 04/03/18 b. 1953 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Reversal came after a mere 9 months. Sentence confirmed after defendant withdrew appeal. |
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Kuma Michitoshi 久間三千年 Fukuoka 08/10/28 Executed ~~~~~ 06/09/08 SC 01/10/10 Fukuoka HC 99/09/29 Fukuoka DC |
Iizuka Double Girls Murder 飯塚２女児 殺人事件 92/02 |
Denied the charges. Strong Claims of Innocence. |
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Hirano Isamu 平野勇 Tokyo 08/09/11 Executed ~~~~~~ 06/09/01 SC 02/07/04 Tokyo HC 00/02/17 Utsunomiya DC |
Husband Wife Murder and Arson Case 夫婦殺人放火事件 1994 |
Denied the charges of arson and murder. |
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Yamamoto Mineteru 山本峰照 Osaka 08/09/11 Executed ~~~~~ 06/09/07 SC Later Appeal Abandoned 06/03/20 Kobe DC |
Double Relative Murder. いとこ夫婦殺人事件 04/07/22 b. 1931 |
Only 2 months elapsed from trial to DC sentence. Confirmed by SC after defendant abandons appeal. |
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Mantani Yoshiyuki 萬谷義幸 Osaka 08/09/11 Executed ~~~~~ 01/12/06 SC 97/04/10 Osaka HC 91/02/07 Osaka DC |
Junior College Student Subway Murder 地下鉄駅短大生 殺人事件 88/01/15 |
Crime committed on parole from life term. |
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Miyasaki Tsutomu 宮崎勤 Tokyo 08/06/17 Executed ~~~~~~~~ 06/01/17 SC 01/06/28 Tokyo HC 97/04/14 Tokyo DC |
Tokyo Saitama Multiple Little Girls Murder (x4)Cases 東京・埼玉連続 幼女殺人事件 １９８８〜８９ |
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Yamasaki Yoshio 山崎義雄 Takamatsu 08/06/17 Executed ~~~~~~~~ 05/01/25 SC 00/10/26 Takamatsu HC 97/02/18 Takamatsu DC Life Imprisonment. |
Miyagi Kagawa Insurance Murders 宮城香川保険金 殺人事件 85/11 90/03 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. |
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Mutsuda Shinji 陸田真志 Tokyo 08/06/17 Executed ~~~~~~~~ 05/10/17 SC 01/09/11 Tokyo HC 98/06/05 Tokyo DC |
SM Club Multiple Murders ＳＭクラブ連続 殺人事件 95/12/21 |
Author of "Living with death: philosophical dialogue behind bars." |
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Okashita Kaoru 岡下香 age 61 Tokyo 08/04/10 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 05/03/03 SC 01/05/17 Tokyo HC 99/03/11 Tokyo DC L.I. |
Wealthy Widow Double Murder 資産家老女ら２人 殺人事件 89/Oct |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Denied one of the charges. |
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Sakamoto Masato 坂本正人 aged 41 Tokyo 08/04/10 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04/11/13 Abandons Appeal. 04/10/29 Tokyo HC 03/10/09 Maebashi DC (L.I.) |
Gumma Oshio High School Murder 群馬県大胡町 女子高生殺人事件 2002/07 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Sentence confirmed after appeal was abandoned. |
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Nakamoto Katsuyoshi 中元勝義 age 64 Osaka 08/04/10 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 97/01/28 SC 91/10/27 Osaka HC 85/05/16 Osaka DC (Sakai Branch) |
Jewelry Store Murder Case 宝石商殺人事件 82/05/20 b. 1943/12/24 |
Denied the charge of murder. |
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Nakamura Masaharu 中村正春 age 61 Osaka 08/04/10 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04/09/09 SC 99/12/22 Osaka HC 95/05/19 Otsu DC |
Colleague Double Murder Case 元同僚ら２人 殺人事件 89/10/10 & 12/26 |
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Matsubara Masahiko 松原正彦 age 64 Osaka 08/02/01 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 97/03/07 SC 92/01/23 Takamatsu HC 90/05/22 Tokushima DC |
Double Housewife Murder ２主婦連続強盗 殺人事件 88.04.18 ~06.01 b. 44/03/19 |
Retrial request underway |
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Nago Keiji 名古圭志 Fukuoka 08/02/01 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 04/08/26 Withdraws Appeal 04/06/18 Kagoshima DC |
Tokunoshima Family Murders 徳之島実兄家族 殺傷事件 ２００２．８ |
Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Mochida Takashi 持田孝 Tokyo 08/02/01 Executed ~~~~~~~~~~ 04/10/13 SC 00/02/28 Tokyo HC Death 99/05/27 Tokyo DC (L.I.) |
Murder of Woman for Revenge. 被害届を出した女性への逆恨み殺人事件 ９７．４ |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. |
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Ikemoto Noboru 池本登 (age 74) Osaka 07/12/07 EXECUTED ///////// 96/03/04 SC 89/11/28 Takamatsu HC Death 88/03/22 Tokushima DC L.I. |
Triple Neighbor Rifle Shooting 猟銃近隣３人 殺人事件 86.06.03 b. 32/12/22 |
Sentenced to Life in first trial. Would have been paroled by the time of execution had the prosecution not appealed (in violation of the constitution). |
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Fukawa Hiroki 府川博樹 (age 42) Tokyo 07/12/07EXECUTED ///////// 03/01/05 Appeal Withdrawn 01/12/19 Tokyo HC 01/03/21 Tokyo DC |
Grandmother/Mother Murder Case 老母子強盗殺人事件 １９９９．４ b. 1965 |
Trials conducted at abnormally fast speed. Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Fujima Seiha 藤間静波 (age 47) Tokyo 07/12/07 EXECUTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04/06/15 SC 00/01/24 Tokyo HC 88/03/10 Yokohama DC |
Fujisawa Mother Daughter Multiple Murders 藤沢母娘殺人事件 81.5/82.5--6 b. 1960 |
In response to attorney protests, court reinstated the case after defendant attempt to abandon appeal. |
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Takezawa Hifumi 竹澤一二三 (age 69) Tokyo 07/08/23 EXECUTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Later: Abandons Appeal 00/12/11 Tokyo HC 98/03/24 Utsunomiya DC |
Ibaragi Pref Triple Murder Case 栃木県３人連続 殺人事件 90/09/13--07/28
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Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Segawa Kouzou 瀬川光三 (age 60) Nagoya 07/08/23 EXECUTED ///////// 01/01/30 SC 97/03/11 Nagoya HC(Kanazawa Branch) 93/07/15 Toyama DC |
Toyama Family Shooting Case 富山夫婦射殺事件 91/05/07 |
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Iwamoto Yoshio 岩本義雄 (age 63) Tokyo 07/08/23 EXECUTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 01/02/06 Appeal Withdrawn 01/02/01 Tokyo DC |
Tokyo Double Murder Robbery Case 東京連続殺人事件 96/06/10& 99/07/08 |
Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Tanaka Masahiro 田中政弘 Tokyo 07/04/27 EXECUTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 00/09/08 SC 95/12/20 Tokyo HC 94/01/27 Yokohama DC |
4 Murders Case ４人殺人事件 84.11 88.03 89.06 91.03 |
Original name was Miyashita. Denies two of the murders. |
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Nata Kosaku 名田幸作 Osaka 07/04/27 EXECUTED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 92/09/29 SC 87/01/23 Osaka HC 84/07/10 Kobe DC (Himeji Branch) |
Ako City Colleague's Family Murders 赤穂同僚妻子 殺人事件 83/01/19 b. 50/06/17 |
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Oda Yoshikatsu 小田義勝 Fukuoka 07/04/27 EXECUTED ///////// Later: Appeal Withdrawn 00/03/15 Fukuoka DC |
Insurance Double Murder Case ２件の保険金 殺人事件 |
Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Akiyama Yoshimitsu 秋山芳光 Tokyo 06/12/25 EXECUTED ///////// 87/07/17 SC 80/03/27 Tokyo HC 76/12/16 Tokyo DC |
Akiyama Brothers Case 秋山兄弟事件 75/08/25 b. 1929/08 age 77 at time of execution |
Denied premeditation. Oldest prisoner executed in Japan's postwar history. |
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Fujinami Yoshio 藤波芳夫 Tokyo 06/12/25 EXECUTED ///////// 93/09/09 SC 87/11/11 Tokyo HC 82/02/19 Utsunomiya DC |
Drug Stimulant Murder 覚醒剤殺人事件 81/03/29 b. 31/05/15 age 75 |
Killed his former wife's family under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Issued a newsletter "Kanaria." |
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Fukuoka Michio 福岡道雄 Osaka 06/12/25 EXECUTED ///////// 99/02/25 SC 94/09/14 Takamatsu HC 88/03/09 Kochi HC |
Triple Consecutive Murder Case ３連続殺人事件 78.12/80.04/ 81.01 age 64 |
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Hidaka Hiroaki 日高広明 Hiroshima 06/12/25 EXECUTED ///////// Later: Appeal Withdrawn 00/02/09 Hiroshima DC |
Hiroshima Taxi Driver Murders Case 広島タクシー運転手 連続殺人事件 ９６．４〜９ b. 62/04 age 44 |
Sentence confirmed upon withdrawal of appeal. |
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Kitagawa Shin 北川晋 Osaka 05/09/16 Executed ///////////// 00/02/04 SC 95/03/30 Takamatsu DC 94/02/23 Kochi DC |
Kochi/Chiba Double Murder Case 高知・千葉連続 殺人事件 83/08/16 86/02/06 |
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2) Deaths in Prison
List of defendants sentenced to death
who have died in detention,
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Nagata Hiroko （F) 永田洋子 Tokyo Died 11/02/06 (Age 65) ~~~~~~~~~ 93/02/19 SC 86/09/26 Tokyo HC 82/06/18 Tokyo DC |
Red Army Activities 連合赤軍事件 71--72/02 b. 45/02/08 |
Considers the charge of complicity to be extra-judicial and has requested extradition abroad. Author of "16 Grave Inscriptions," "I am alive" and other works (in Japanese). ( More ) |
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Sakamoto Haruno( F) 坂本春野 Osaka Died 11/01/27 (aged 83) 〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜 04/11/19 SC 00/09/28 Takamatsu HC 98/07/29 Takamatsu DC |
Kochi Double Murder Case 高知２件連続 殺人事件 87/01 92/08 |
8th woman to be sentenced to death in post-war era. Age 77 at time of SC sentence. Insists upon innocence. |
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Kumagai Shoko 熊谷昭孝 Sendai Died 11/01/29 ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04/06/25 SC 98/03/17 Sendai HC 95/01/27 Fukushima DC |
Chiba Fukushima Iwate Kidnap Murder Case 千葉福島岩手誘拐 殺人事件 86/07 89/07 91/05 Three people sentenced to death for 2 victims. Okazaki Shigeo and Sako Yasuhiro are assumed accomplices. |
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Teshiba Katsutoshi 手柴勝敏 Fukuoka Died: 01/04/15 ~~~~~~ 09/12/11 SC 06/05/24 Fukuoka HC 04/03/11 Fukuoka DC L.I. |
Fukuoka Shohnai Multiple Murders 福岡庄内連続 殺人事件 96/06/08~11/19 b. 1944 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal |
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Yamamoto Kai-ichi 山本開一 Died 2010/01/02 ~~~~~ 08/04/24 SC 06/09/28 Tokyo HC 05/09/08 Saitama DC |
Shooting of 5 Yakuza 組員５人射殺事件 |
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Ishibashi Eiji 石橋英治 Tokyo 09/10/27 Died (aged 72) ~~~~~~~~~~~~ 04/04/27 SC 99/04/28 Tokyo HC 96/03/08 Yokohama DC (Odawara Branch) L.I. |
Kanagawa Double Murder & Robbery 神奈川２件強盗 殺人事件 88/12/28 89/01/01 |
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Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Found innocent of one charge in first trial. |
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Ito Atsushi 伊藤稔 Nagoya 09/05/02 Died ~~~~~~~~~~ 09/01/22 SC 06/02/16 Nagoya HC 04/03/26 Toyama DC |
Takaoka Yakuza Chief & Wife Shooting 高岡組長夫婦 射殺事件 00/07/13 |
3 defendants implicated in the shooting. Accomplices received lesser sentences. |
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Arai Masao 荒井正男 Tokyo Died 2009/09/04 aged 82 ~~~~~~~~~ 90/10/16 SC 84/12/18 Tokyo HC 76/09/25 Yokohama DC (Yokosuka Branch) |
Misaki Case 三崎事件 71/12/21 b. 1927/02/04 |
Pleaded innocent from second trial. No evidence beyond coerced confession. Had a support association which publishes newsletter: "Shiokaze."Retrial request underway. Supported by Amnesty International. |
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Park Il Gwan (aka) Boku Nikkou 朴日光 Fukuoka 09/01/04 Dies in Prison aged 62 ---------------- 06/11/24 SC 03/03/28 Fukuoka HC 99/06/14 Fukuoka DC |
Taxi Driver Murder Case&others タクシー運転手 殺人事件 95/01/12 ~01/28 |
South Korean National. Insists the Nagoya case was committed by an acquaintance. Refutes the DNA evidence as unreliable. |
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Sawachi Kazuo 澤地和夫 Tokyo 08/12/16 Dies in detention ~~~~~~~~ 95/07/03 SC 93/07/07 Abandons Appeal 89/03/03 Tokyo HC 87/10/30 Tokyo DC |
Lake Yamanaka Multiple Murders 山中湖連続殺人事件 84/10/11&25 b. 1939/04/15 |
Sentence confirmed upon abandonment of appeal. Former Tokyo police officer. Author of "Murderous Intent-Confession from Death Row" and other works. Has newsletter entitled "Toukou Tsushin." Retrial request underway [ More ] |
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Ui Ryoji 宇井俊次 Hiroshima 08/02/07 Dies in Detention ~~~~~~~ 07/11/30 SC 04/02/25 Hiroshima HC: Okayama Branch 03/05/21 Okayama DC |
Women Murder Case 女性殺人事件 01/08/09 |
Crime committed while on parole from life imprisonment. [ More ] |
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Chiba Shoko (F) 千葉正子 b. 1962 08/12/29 suicide. ~~~ ~~~ 08/10/08 Iwate DC |
Iwate Temple Murder and Robbery 2007 June 11 |
( More ) |