Japanese man freed after 56 years on death row in landmark ruling

shizuoka - Iwao Hakamada, who was sentenced to death in 1968 for a quadruple murder, has been acquitted after serious doubts were raised about his confession, sparking concerns about Japan's legal system.

Iwao Hakamada, now 88 years old, was convicted in 1968 for a quadruple murder based on a confession that was later disputed, casting doubt on the entire Japanese legal system. Hakamada, who worked at a soybean processing plant in central Japan, became the prime suspect after his boss, the boss's wife, and their two children were found stabbed to death. A bloodstain on a pair of pajamas, allegedly belonging to Hakamada, linked him to the crime.

After days of interrogation, including being questioned for 23 days with limited breaks and alleged physical abuse by the police, Hakamada confessed to the murders. Despite recanting his confession later on, he was sentenced to death with a slim majority of judges in favor of the decision. One dissenting judge resigned six months post-sentencing out of disappointment, leaving Hakamada waiting on death row for 48 years.

In 2014, a retrial was ordered following a DNA test that proved the blood on the pajamas did not belong to the victims. Due to his age and deteriorating mental state, Hakamada was released pending the new trial. After multiple appeals, the Shizuoka court finally acquitted Hakamada on Thursday, 56 years after his initial conviction.

His sister Hideko, 91, expressed hope for his prolonged freedom, although she mentioned his detachment from reality, limited communication, and disinterest in others. Despite his mental health struggles, Hakamada found solace in caring for two adopted cats in recent years, showing signs of improvement.

Beyond Hakamada's case, advocates highlight broader concerns about Japan's legal system, emphasizing the reliance on confessions for convictions. Former prosecutor Hiroshi Ichikawa noted a historical emphasis on securing confessions over evidence, sometimes resorting to threats and manipulation tactics to extract guilt from suspects. Amnesty International's Chiara Sangiorgio sees Hakamada's case as emblematic of systemic flaws in Japan's criminal justice system, citing numerous irregularities in his conviction.