Ministers remain reluctant to OK full videotaping of suspects' questioning

Saturday 06th June, 05:07 AM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 42 Total Comments Show All

kirakira25 at 04:19 PM JST - 6th June

Even the majority of Japanese do not consider this to be logical. People all know that it is just pretext. It is just they try not to argue against stupid pretexts

Maybe if the Japanese actually DID stand up and start to argue, or at elast raise their voices a little against some of the outrageous behaviour of the authorities in this country things might actually start to change. The total apathy in Japan is what keeps a lot of these injustices continuing and these idiots in power.
realist at 04:20 PM JST - 6th June

The REAL reason for the refusal of the Japanese "Jusitce" (joke) ministewr and the LDP Fascis Soka Gakkai Alliance to allow the videoing and taping of questioning by J police is because they know exactly that it would prevent the bullying and beating up of the suspects, a daliy occurrence here.
Shaolin7 at 07:19 PM JST - 6th June

I am a Japanese. I want you guys to think of Japan as a developing country and treat as such. Don't expect too much of it. If you are in a third world, you wouldn't be so sarcastic about the politics there, would you? Politics here sucks. Police here sucks. Public services suck here. Many of us feel that way. But, Japan is not of western origin. Ther are too many contradictions and dark sides to mention, but it is how it is, we cannot change them in one hundred years or two.

Pinoyas0629,

I have to say it's refreshing to read the viewpoint of a native Japanese, on a Japan based news website! The kind of sweeping political changes people talk about can happen, but it requires the proactive participation and belief of the Japanese citizens (as both Gaijinoccio and kirakira25 have already stated). It's incumbent upon the Japanese themselves to affect that sort of real, sustainable, change -- and that is going to take a propotionate change in the mindset of regular Japanese citizens like you.

I think some of the posters, myself included, are trying to encourage you in our own ways. Don't just accept the status quo.

P.S. If you want to use the quote function, just copy and paste the text you wish to quote, highlight the text, and click on the "Quote" function right about the comment bar.
pinoyas0629 at 07:32 PM JST - 6th June

Gaijinocchio

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying shoganai even a bit. I am trying to convince whoever Japanese to think in modernized way. I even post comments on Japanese BBSs like 2 channel... trying to change this feudalistic way of thinking. However, it takes more time than you imagine to change ethos of people. I would be nuts if I don't tell myself it takes time. Think about it. Japan is the fastest nation in the world that has changed in the last 100 years. Yet, this is where Japan stands now. Usually, I fiercely criticize my country's stupidity, but I defend if you guys criticize my country's flaws, you know, it is like you put down my parents. So, from now on, I will defend it, probably I will be the only one on this BBS, haha!
Ah_so at 07:43 PM JST - 6th June

Technologically Japan is equal to, or largely ahead, of the West. In thought and attitudes, it is usually about 25 years behind. However, Japan will catch up eventually.

It is on the agenda and the ball will start rolling. The law will change in a decade or so and taping will be in place.
mindovermatter at 07:47 PM JST - 6th June

prosecutors told a high court they will accept a retrial because recent DNA analyses highly likely prove his innocence.

HUH....?

Oh, gee how nice of you to let him have a retrial...

What a corrupt system with incompetent people...

God help you, if you are ever accused of a crime here in Japan...
pinoyas0629 at 08:02 PM JST - 6th June

Thanks,Shaolin7

The total apathy in Japan is what keeps a lot of these injustices continuing and these idiots in power.

The political apathy in Japan is awful. It was't like this before the WW2, although it eventually led to insanity. But insanity happened in Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia etc.. My point is, the apathy started after the WW2. I remember the pressure at school not to stand out or not to speak out to change something big. Educational environment must have been largely responsible, and it was censored by GHQ. America did an excellent job to domesticate the Japan's populace. Hence Japna is now a satellite country of the U.S., good job. Don't get me wrong. I am not right wing or conservative. I am not saying the old day Japan was bright. The more I think, the more I am inclined to believe some sort of conspiracy theories. The political apathy seems almost a result of brainwash or cultism. Don't you think? Politics is a taboo here in a democratic country, wtf? Isn't it a sign of mindcontrolling?
medievaltimes at 08:20 PM JST - 6th June

Even the majority of Japanese do not consider this to be logical.

pinoyas0629 - With all due respect, read my post again. I never said the majority of Japanese consider the quote to be logical. I said the QUOTE was typical Japanese logic.

As for the Japanese people I said, "To the majority of Japanese this explanation will be sufficient."

"Sufficient" means the Japanese will shrug their shoulders and move on with their day.
hakujinsensei at 12:53 AM JST - 7th June

The police, aso san, and any other official can say anything they want, but the investigation procedure being shielded from complete transparency reeks of nothing less than covering their asses. The public, myself included pays the wages of those police and I demand transparency with regards to where my money is spent. It is time for the boys in blue to grow up and become men and take responsibility for their actions.
pinoyas0629 at 09:38 AM JST - 7th June

medievaltimes

Well,then, I misunderstood.

The public, myself included pays the wages of those police and I demand transparency with regards to where my money is spent.

This is a good way to convince people other than human rights.

It is time for the boys in blue to grow up and become men

Well, growing up in Japan's context has a totally different meaning; grow up and don't whine over what you paid for! So, "grow up" might not be a good wording.
JoeBigs at 08:52 AM JST - 8th June

Mori, who has jurisdiction over prosecutors, told a regular news conference that full-fledged audio and video recording of the questioning ‘‘could cause (suspects) to hesitate deposing and could also pose an obstacle to the revelation of the truth.’’

If they can't beat the suspect into confessing how the hell are they going to convict anyone?LOL
sf2k at 03:45 PM JST - 8th June

there is reluctance because no one wants to take responsibility in a culture where taking responsibility is avoided at all costs. Cases would need evidence. Police would have to learn interrogation is not physical. Bribes and tampering from Yakuza would become all too obvious. Established norms of hand washing and influence pedaling from government would become public and scandalize the country about 100x time more. From that point of view it's amazing there are any police at all.

However in the end, it will be all worth it. In the meantime, the shoe/geta has to drop soon.
ca1ic0cat at 09:23 PM JST - 8th June

I'm not sure that videotaping all questioning is typical anywhere but I wonder why not? The technology is there and it would keep any suspicion of "enhanced questioning" from being asked. Sounds like a double edged sword.
Youdontknow at 02:47 AM JST - 10th June

The only reason these shysters don't want taping is because they can't get away with putting innocent people in prison anymore, thus keeping the figures low for the image portrayed to the rest of the world. Japan is a peaceful nation, with a low crime rate - yeah, right....
elzey02 at 05:02 PM JST - 12th June

If you got something to hide that's the only reason you should resist recording and taping interviews of suspects. There is not much to think about; if you use these methods it will only make your investigators better because they won't be able to beat confession out of people that are innocent.