Iwao Hakamada’s Retrial Verdict: A Landmark Case in Japan’s Judicial History

The Shizuoka District Court is set to deliver a verdict on the retrial of Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old man whose death sentence was finalized for the robbery-murder of a family of four in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 1966.

The defense team has argued that the investigative agency fabricated multiple pieces of evidence, including the unnatural redness of the bloodstains on the “five pieces of clothing” found at the crime scene. In contrast, the prosecution has flatly denied any fabrication, leading to intense speculation about the verdict.

The Significance of the Retrial

Lawyer Hideyo Ogawa, secretary-general of the defense team, emphasized that “the case is completely different from the prosecution’s plot. We want the verdict to acknowledge that many things were fabricated, starting with the clothing.” The fact that a retrial has been held indicates that there are significant doubts about the original verdict.

The Mysterious Bloodstains

The defense team has conducted repeated reenactment experiments, concluding that “soaking in miso causes a chemical reaction that turns the body dark brown.” However, the bloodstains on the five pieces of clothing found at the crime scene remained red, raising suspicions about the authenticity of the evidence.

The courtroom at Shizuoka District Court where Iwao Hakamada’s retrial was held on May 22nd.

A History of Controversy

In 2010, the prosecution revealed color photos that made the redness of the five pieces of clothing look even more vivid, which had a major impact on the court’s decision. In 2014, the Shizuoka District Court allowed a retrial, stating that “there is a considerable possibility that the most important evidence was fabricated by the investigative authorities,” and released Hakamada after 48 years in prison.

The Prosecution’s Stance

The prosecution has consistently denied any fabrication of evidence, arguing that it is “probably impossible for investigators to sneak into a miso factory and hide five pieces of clothing.” However, the defense team has emphasized that the prosecution’s argument is based on a flawed assumption that the evidence was not fabricated.

The Verdict’s Implications

A retrial is held when “clear new evidence supporting an acquittal” is found, so the verdict on the 26th is likely to be not guilty. The implications of the verdict will be significant, with potential consequences for the prosecution and the justice system as a whole.

The Case’s Background

On June 30, 1966, a fire broke out at the home of the managing director of a miso manufacturing company in Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, and four murdered bodies were found in the ruins. An employee at the company, Hakamada, was indicted on charges of robbery and murder, and although he claimed innocence, his death sentence was finalized in 1980.

The Five Pieces of Clothing

Five items of clothing, including a white short-sleeved shirt, were found inside a miso tank at the factory one year and two months after the murder. The final verdict determined that these were the clothes Hakamada was wearing at the time of the crime. At the retrial hearing, the rationale for the fact that redness remained in the bloodstains from the miso soaking was disputed.