symposium held in Otsu City on the afternoon of the 2nd.”/>

Lawyer Yumi Kamoshida giving a lecture at a symposium held in Otsu City on the afternoon of the 2nd.

Reforming the Legal System: A Call to Action

A symposium was held in Otsu City on the 2nd to discuss reforming the legal system regarding retrials and preventing false accusations. Lawyer Yumi Kamoshida, acting head of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations Headquarters for Revising the Retrial Act, strongly urged, “Now is the time to revise the Retrial Act, as so many famous cases are being moved.”

At the symposium, Hiroji Sakahara, the eldest son of former inmate Hiroji Sakahara, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery and murder in the 1984 Hino-cho incident in Shiga Prefecture in which a woman who owned a liquor store was murdered, took the stage. “I believe a good decision will be made,” he said.

In the Hinocho case, the Osaka High Court decided to start a retrial in February 2023 on the second request for retrial. The Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office is dissatisfied with the decision and has filed a special appeal with the Supreme Court.

The Need for Reform

The symposium highlighted the need for reform in the legal system, particularly in regards to retrials and preventing false accusations. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations Headquarters for Revising the Retrial Act is working towards revising the Retrial Act to ensure that justice is served.

A Call to Action

Lawyer Yumi Kamoshida’s call to action emphasizes the importance of revising the Retrial Act. With many famous cases being moved, it is crucial that the legal system is reformed to prevent false accusations and ensure that justice is served.