Abolition of death penalty in Japan “inappropriate”: Justice Minister

Newly appointed Justice Minister Hideki Makihara said on Wednesday that abolishing the death penalty in Japan, where there have been no executions in more than two years, was “inappropriate” because the public largely considers it “unavoidable for heinous crimes.”

At a press conference, Makihara added that the taking of a human life is an extremely serious matter and must therefore be approached with utmost caution.

Given the increased interest in the retrial following the recent acquittal of Iwao Hakamata, 88, who spent nearly half a century on death row, Makihara stressed that “a careful and thorough examination from various perspectives is required.”

Hideki Makihara, Japan's new justice minister, speaks at a news conference at the ministry in Tokyo on October 2, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

He also took a cautious stance on whether married couples should be allowed to use different surnames, a contentious issue in the recent Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, and warned that progress should not be forced given divided public opinion.

Regarding the intake of foreign workers under a new system intended to replace the current foreign trainee program, Makihara said he would work with relevant ministries to determine the extent to which job transfers would be permitted.

The new system, expected to be introduced in 2027, replaces the current system that prohibits job changes in the first three years and allows job changes after one or two years of employment at a job.

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