Justice on the Brink: Why Iwao Hakamada’s Retrial Demands a Change in the Law
Rally for Retrial Law Reform to be Held in Tokyo
A rally titled “Now is the time to change the retrial law! Countdown to the Hakamada ruling” will be held on the 19th at Hibiya Park Concert Hall (Yon) in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, to raise momentum for legal reform and to raise awareness of the problems with the retrial system through videos and talk events.
The rally, organized by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and others, comes as the verdict of the retrial of Iwao Hakamada (88), whose death sentence was finalized for the robbery and murder of a family of four in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1966, approaches on the 26th.
Rally Program
The first part of the event, which starts at 5:00 pm, will begin with a short movie about Mr. Hakamada, directed by Kim Sung-yong, who continues to shoot documentaries about victims of false accusations. He will introduce the JFBA’s efforts to reform the law, and Mr. Hakamada’s sister, Hideko (91), will deliver a message.
Attorney Kamoshida (right) and Director Suo explain the rally on the 19th at the Judicial Press Club in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo.
The second part, starting at 6pm, will be hosted by the Citizens’ Group for Revision of the Retrial Law. They will screen the video “Cutting Down the Retrial System!” by “Seyarogai Ojisan,” a YouTuber who posts videos addressing current affairs. There will also be a talk event with film director and group co-representative Suo Masayuki, and Atsuko Muraki, a former vice minister of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare who was detained for 164 days on false charges, as well as a mini-live concert dedicated to victims of false charges.
Call to Action
Kamoshida Yumi, acting head of the JFBA’s Headquarters for the Realization of Retrial Law Revision, said, “The verdict on the 26th must be the end of Mr. Hakamada’s 58-year struggle, but at the same time, we want it to be the start of legal reform. We want this to be a rally that will be said in the future to have decided on the revision of the retrial law. We hope that as many people as possible will come.”
Participation is free. No prior registration is required. The rally will be streamed on YouTube.