The world’s longest-serving death row inmate, Iwao Hakamada, has been released and acquitted by the Shizuoka District Court in Japan on Thursday, after serving 50 years for a quadruple murder conviction in 1968.
The 88-year-old man, who had spent 46 years on death row, was cleared of all charges in a retrial obtained by his defense team a decade ago.
This case, which has garnered international attention, involved Hakamada’s conviction for the murders of his boss, wife, and their two children in 1966.
However, concerns over coerced confessions and questionable evidence—particularly blood-stained clothing found in a miso tank—raised serious doubts about the fairness of his trial.
Judge Koshi Kunii delivered the ruling, stating, “The court finds the defendant innocent,” citing issues with the evidence used to convict Hakamada.
Due to his fragile health, Hakamada was not present in court, but his sister Hideko, who has campaigned tirelessly for his release, represented him during the proceedings.
Hakamada’s retrial comes as a reminder of Japan’s controversial justice system, often criticized for its use of prolonged detentions and forced confessions.
His case has become a symbol of the push for reform, with human rights activists pointing to systemic failures within Japan’s judicial system.
Hakamada’s supporters gathered outside the court, carrying banners and flags, expressing both relief and frustration at how long justice had been delayed.
Despite the acquittal, the case remains a grim reflection of Japan’s capital punishment practices, which continue to face scrutiny from both domestic and international observers.
Hakamada was initially sentenced to death in 1980 but was granted a retrial in 2014 following new evidence that cast doubt on the integrity of the prosecution’s case, suggesting that key elements may have been fabricated.
Despite being released from prison while awaiting the retrial, Hakamada faced ongoing legal challenges until his official exoneration this week.
Japan stands as one of the few developed countries, along with the United States, that still practices capital punishment. It continues to carry out executions by hanging, often with minimal advance notice.
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