The world’s longest-serving death row inmate, Iwao Hakamada, has been acquitted by a Japanese court more than half a century after his conviction for murder.
The 88-year-old, a former professional boxer, spent 46 years on death row after being sentenced in 1968 for the robbery and murder of his boss, the man’s wife, and their two teenage children.
Hakamada, who was not in court due to poor health, was convicted based on a confession he claimed was forced through brutal police interrogations, including beatings. The court found that key evidence had been fabricated, specifically that investigators had tampered with bloodstained clothes, hiding them in miso paste to frame him.
His sister, Hideko, 91, who has been his most vocal advocate, was present in court and expressed her deep gratitude to supporters outside. “We won the acquittal, it’s all thanks to your support,” she said tearfully after the verdict.
The retrial was granted in 2014, but Hakamada was only released from prison after decades in solitary confinement. The legal battle dragged on until the court finally ruled in his favor. Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate in post-war Japan to be acquitted after a retrial.
The case has drawn attention to Japan’s criminal justice system, which has been criticized for its “hostage justice” approach, where suspects are often subjected to prolonged detention and intense interrogations to force confessions. Amnesty International called the ruling an “important recognition of the profound injustice” Hakamada suffered.
Despite the acquittal, Japan’s prosecution has two weeks to appeal the decision, leaving a possibility of further legal proceedings.
Supporters and human rights groups have long condemned Hakamada’s treatment, with many calling for reform in Japan’s justice system, particularly regarding its use of the death penalty and the reliance on confessions obtained under duress.
