Tokyo Rally Demands Ban on Prosecutorial Appeals in Retrial Cases
On April 18, 2026, wrongful conviction victims and supporters gathered in Shibuya, Tokyo, to demand judicial reforms. Led by Hideko Hakamada and Shoshi Maekawa, the event urged Japan’s Ministry of Justice to ban prosecutors from appealing retrial grants and mandate full evidence disclosure. Speakers highlighted how procedural delays and concealed exculpatory evidence prolonged their decades-long ordeals. The demonstration intensifies pressure on the Liberal Democratic Party to strengthen human rights protections and prevent further miscarriages of justice within Japan’s criminal retrial system.
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Activists in Shibuya Demand Reform of Japan's Retrial System to Prevent Wrongful Convictions
On April 18, 2026, a public demonstration was held in front of Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo, calling for urgent reforms to Japan's retrial system. Organized by victims of wrongful convictions, lawyers, and supporters, the event highlighted the need to ban prosecutors' appeals against decisions to start retrials and to mandate full disclosure of evidence by investigative agencies. Shoji Maekawa, who was acquitted in a retrial last summer after being wrongly convicted for a 1986 murder in Fukui City, shared his experience. His case revealed that prosecutors had withheld crucial evidence for over 34 years, specifically an investigation report regarding the broadcast date of a TV program that undermined eyewitness testimony. This delay extended his legal battle by nearly 13 years after the initial retrial decision. Ichiro Furudate, the former host of the mentioned program, served as the MC and criticized the concealment of evidence. The participants argued that the current system allows innocent individuals to remain imprisoned due to procedural delays and lack of transparency. The demonstration coincides with ongoing debates within the Liberal Democratic Party regarding government bills on judicial reform, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that innocent people are promptly acquitted.
asahiActivists in Shibuya Demand Retrial System Reform to Prevent Wrongful Convictions
On April 18, 2026, victims of wrongful convictions, lawyers, and supporters gathered in front of Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo, to demand urgent reforms to Japan's retrial system. The event highlighted the need to ban prosecutors' appeals against decisions to start retrials and to enforce thorough disclosure of evidence by investigative agencies. Shoji Maekawa, who was acquitted in a retrial last summer for a 1986 murder in Fukui City after a 13-year legal battle, shared his experience. He revealed that prosecutors had withheld an investigation report for over 34 years, which proved that key eyewitness testimony was unreliable due to a discrepancy in a TV broadcast date. Ichiro Furudate, a former TV host, moderated the event, criticizing the concealment of exculpatory evidence. The demonstrators argued that the current system allows innocent people to remain imprisoned due to procedural delays and lack of transparency. This public appeal comes amidst ongoing debates within the Liberal Democratic Party regarding government bills on judicial reform, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that innocent individuals are promptly acquitted.
asahiActivists in Shibuya Demand Retrial System Reform to Prevent Wrongful Convictions
On April 18, 2026, victims of wrongful convictions, lawyers, and supporters gathered in front of Hachiko in Shibuya, Tokyo, to demand urgent reforms to Japan's retrial system. The event highlighted the need to ban prosecutors' appeals against decisions to start retrials and to enforce thorough disclosure of evidence by investigative agencies. Shoji Maekawa, who was acquitted in a retrial last summer for a 1986 murder in Fukui City after a 13-year legal battle, shared his experience. He revealed that prosecutors had withheld an investigation report for over 34 years, which proved that key eyewitness testimony was unreliable due to a discrepancy in a TV broadcast date. Ichiro Furudate, a former TV host, moderated the event, criticizing the concealment of exculpatory evidence. The demonstrators argued that the current system allows innocent people to remain imprisoned due to procedural delays and lack of transparency. This public appeal comes amidst ongoing debates within the Liberal Democratic Party regarding government bills on judicial reform, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that innocent individuals are promptly acquitted.
asahiHakamada's Sister Urges Ban on Prosecutorial Appeals in Retrial Reform Debate
Amid ongoing discussions by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party regarding revisions to the criminal retrial system, a public event was held in Shibuya, Tokyo, on April 18, 2026, advocating for legal reforms to protect the innocent. The central demand is to prohibit prosecutors from appealing court decisions that grant retrials. Hideko Hakamada, sister of Iwao Hakamada who was acquitted after 44 years on death row, appealed to the Ministry of Justice to act humanely. She highlighted how prosecutorial appeals prolonged her brother's suffering, noting that nine years were spent solely on such appeals. Shoshi Maekawa, another man acquitted in a retrial after 40 years, also spoke, describing his lost time as a blank space and criticizing authorities for hiding exculpatory evidence. Both victims emphasized that the current government bill, which maintains the right to appeal, is insufficient. They argue for a complete ban on prosecutorial appeals to prevent further injustice and ensure full disclosure of evidence. The event underscores growing public pressure for judicial reform in Japan to address systemic flaws in wrongful conviction cases.
asahiHakamada's Sister Urges Ban on Prosecutorial Appeals in Retrial Reform Debate
Amid ongoing discussions by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party regarding the revision of the criminal retrial system, a public event advocating for legal reform was held in Shibuya, Tokyo. The central issue is whether prosecutors should be permitted to appeal court decisions that grant retrials to potentially innocent defendants. Hideko Hakamada, sister of Iwao Hakamada who was acquitted after 44 years on death row, strongly appealed for a prohibition on such appeals. She highlighted the prolonged suffering caused by prosecutorial delays, noting that nine years of her brother's ordeal were spent fighting appeals. Shoshi Maekawa, another man acquitted in a retrial after forty years, also spoke, describing his lost time as a blank space and criticizing the concealment of exculpatory evidence. Both victims urged the Ministry of Justice to prioritize human rights over procedural technicalities. While the government's current bill allows appeals to continue, pressure from within the LDP and civil society is mounting to ban them entirely to prevent further miscarriages of justice and ensure timely relief for the wrongfully convicted.
asahiHakamada's Sister Urges Ban on Prosecutorial Appeals in Retrial Reform Debate
Amid ongoing discussions by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party regarding the revision of the criminal retrial system, a public event was held in Shibuya, Tokyo, on April 18, 2026, advocating for legal reforms to protect the innocent. The central demand is to prohibit prosecutors from appealing court decisions that grant retrials. Hideko Hakamada, sister of Iwao Hakamada who was acquitted after 44 years on death row, passionately appealed to the Ministry of Justice to act humanely. She highlighted how prosecutorial appeals prolonged her brother's suffering, noting that nine years were spent solely on such appeals. Similarly, Shoshi Maekawa, another man acquitted in a retrial after 40 years, criticized the prosecution for hiding exculpatory evidence and filing appeals without justification. Both victims emphasized that the current government bill, which maintains the right to appeal, fails to prevent further injustice. They called for a complete ban on prosecutorial appeals in retrial cases to ensure that evidence is fully disclosed and innocent individuals are not subjected to decades of unnecessary legal battles. The event underscores growing public pressure for judicial accountability and systemic change in Japan's criminal justice framework.
asahiHakamada's Sister Urges Ban on Prosecutorial Appeals in Retrial Reform Debate
Amid ongoing discussions by Japan's Liberal Democratic Party regarding revisions to the criminal retrial system, a public event was held in Shibuya, Tokyo, on April 18, 2026, advocating for legal reforms to protect the innocent. The central demand is to prohibit prosecutors from appealing court decisions that grant retrials. Hideko Hakamada, sister of Iwao Hakamada who was acquitted after 44 years on death row, passionately appealed to the Ministry of Justice to act humanely. She highlighted how prosecutorial appeals prolonged her brother's suffering, noting that nine years were spent solely on such appeals. Shoshi Maekawa, another man acquitted in a retrial after 40 years, also spoke, describing his lost time as a blank space and criticizing authorities for hiding exculpatory evidence. Both victims emphasized that the current government bill, which maintains the right to appeal, is insufficient. They argue for a complete ban on prosecutorial appeals to prevent further injustice and ensure full evidence disclosure. The event underscores the urgent need for systemic change in Japan's judicial process to safeguard human rights and prevent wrongful convictions from being perpetuated by procedural delays.
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