Cheating the Hangman
Demands for death which ended in life imprisonment.
Sentences of death which were reduced to life imprisonment.
Note F= female
2019
Kobayashi Haruka
Kimino Yasuhiro (Sentenced to death-overturned by high court)
Isohi Kyozo (Sentenced to death-overturned by high court)
Nakada-Ludena (Sentenced to death-overturned by high court).
2018
Shibuya Yasumasa
2013
Jun 26 Ino Kazuo
2012
July 20 Kawashita Makoto
2011
April 20 Yin Lina (F) Upheld Osaka H.C
Feb 24 Imamura Munesuke Osaka H.C.
Feb 02 Noji Suguru Fukuoka D.C. Killed one woman and injured another.
(Seeking the death penalty for one murder is a recent measure.)
2010
Nov 10 Hayashi Koji
Mar 02 Kageyama Hiroshi (note: tried before a "saibanin" (mixed jury system).
The prosecution took the rare step of asking for life imprisonment rather than death.
Jun Shimura Hiroshi (M aged 25) Killed two people. Father paid 80 million yen ($800,000) to the victims.
Jan 29 Yin Lina (F) Osaka D.C Chinese national. Killed her former husband and two other men.
2009
Dec 17 Kiuchi Yoshio 78 year old man who killed 4 family members.
Sep 09 Shiro Tetsuya Murdered the mayor of Nagasaki city in 2007.
Sentenced to death by DC. Sentenced commuted to life by Fukuoka HC.
Apr 09 19 year old male (Aomori Filicide Case)
Feb 21 Zheng Yongshan (F) Osaka HC. Chinese national. Killed two children.
Feb 17 Hoshijima Takanori Tokyo DC. 34 year old man who killed a 24 year old woman.
(Seeking the death penalty for one murder is a recent measure.) Sentence later upheld by HC.
Jan 13 Hara Taira 61 year old man who killed 5 relatives.
2008
Dec 17 Obayashi Hisato Killed police officer and wounded two others.
Dec 09 Sakamoto Akihiro Co-defendant with Nakai Kayoko (below). Caused 4 deaths.
March 20 Hatakeyama Suzuka (F) Killed two little girls, including her own daughter.
March 21 Iwamori Minoru
2007
Nov 29 Nakai Kayoko (F) (caused 4 deaths)
Jul 19 Takahashi Yuko (F) Killed two husbands, one in 1994, the second in 2000. Prosecutors asked for life.
2006
Oct 16 Murata Mikio
July 4 Yagi Jose Hiroshima DC. Murder and sexual assault of a 7 year old girl.
Peruvian national.