Yasuoka supports death penalty

Saturday 02nd August, 06:03 AM JST

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pathat at 10:37 PM JST - 2nd August

New Justice Minister Yasuoka supports death penalty

I am glad that new Justice Minister Yasuoka intends to uphold the law, like Mr. Hatoyama did, instead of allowing personal feelings to get in the way as some previous Justice Ministers have.
borscht at 11:00 PM JST - 2nd August

The Pope In Toyama last year a man who was arrested for rape and jailed for two years was released - not by DNA - but by the real culprit coming forward. About five (four?) years ago a man who was arrested for murder (multiple, if memory serves) and jailed since 1967 or so was released after the judge who convicted him urged a re-trial and he was found not guilty (again, not by DNA). And I believe Hotoyama had a man hung who had been on death row for about 40 years and people involved in the case, including prosecutors, have recently said was innocent.

In all three cases the conviction was on circumstantial evidence and forced confessions.

I'm trying to look up the particulars on Google as I'm sure I got some of the detail and other specifics wrong. These are just the ones I can think of off the top of my addled head.
borscht at 11:14 PM JST - 2nd August

The Pope

Here's a link to the multiple murderer a judge thinks is innocent http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070310a3.html
borscht at 11:25 PM JST - 2nd August

A man who was released: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20080127x1.html

The Toyama man falsely accused of rape: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20080307a2.html

I think the phrase 'forced confessions' shows up a couple of times.
LIBERTAS at 07:52 AM JST - 3rd August

Japan's own hangin' judge Part II, Okiharu Yasuoka.
The_Pope at 08:26 AM JST - 3rd August

AlfGarnett: Did I miss a meeting? I was under the impression the death penalty was abolished in the U.K. over 100 years ago???

Some posters have cited random samples of persons jailed wrongly; but my point is Japan is not Iran where they hang people for being a public nuisance. I really wonder how many death row inmates actually die of old age on death row because the Justice Minister did not feel comfortable about signing the death warrant due to the evidence or lack of...
borscht at 08:55 AM JST - 3rd August

The Pope's original statement

You have to be pretty naive to think Japan executes people on circumstantial evidence or confessions alone. The criminals executed here are definitely guilty beyond any doubt. ... I have never heard of a Japanese convict being released due to DNA testing proving their innocence -- if anyone has, please post...

So I posted three links about people who were 'definitely guilty beyond any doubt' being released because their innocence was proven (or killed and then shown to be innocent.) (Moderators axed one, claiming it to be 'off topic.') I also showed that while you wanted their release to be due to DNA testing, none were. Sorry about that.

Now, you clarify with

my point is Japan is not Iran where they hang people for being a public nuisance

And proven, by a court, to be 'definitely guilty beyond any doubt', of being a public nuisance (they broke the law, they should be hung). And, as the moderators will say, comparisons with other countries are not relevant. (i.e. many death row inmates have been shown to be innocent in other countries).

And I would hope that a Justice Minister would NOT sign a death warrant due to lack of evidence or 'forced' evidence.
Notginger at 11:13 AM JST - 4th August

The_Pope - the death penalty was abolished in Great Britain less than 50 years ago - from your previous posts you seem to have missed several meetings and not bothered to read the minutes.
presto345 at 09:32 PM JST - 4th August

citing an opinion poll that showed more than 80% of Japanese people support the death penalty.

BS, opinion polls are meaningless. Only a referendum with a huge turnout can tell us something.
bushlover at 05:58 AM JST - 5th August

I'm for it. There are many psychos here that deserve it. I'm with Yasuoka.
presto345 at 12:05 AM JST - 6th August

I'm for it. There are many psychos here that deserve it. I'm with Yasuoka.

What is a psycho and why would he/she deserve 'IT'? Please tell us.
Sarge at 12:23 AM JST - 6th August

A "psycho" in this case is a scumbag who kills others for pleasure and/or money, and therefore doesn't deserve to live.
presto345 at 06:39 PM JST - 6th August

A "psycho" in this case is a scumbag who kills others for pleasure and/or money, and therefore doesn't deserve to live.

'Doesn't deserve to live', says who? Killing for revenge can be justified?
seansezso at 04:29 PM JST - 7th August

Those who support the death penalty should experience it first hand, just to be sure they understand the gravity of thier beliefs.

Mr. Yasuoka, please step forward!
bushlover at 06:32 AM JST - 13th August

seansezso maybe you should experience first hand being a victim. Just to be sure you understand the gravity of it all.