HIGH COURT CONVICTIONS
List of death sentences handed down by the high courts.
All cases are being appealed to the Supreme Court.
High Court Death Penalty Statistics
Total Defendants 50
Women=4
Minors=2
Non-Japanese (Chinese=2)
Originally Sentenced to Life Imprisonment= 7
(Sentences were raised to death upon appeal of the prosecution).
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Name (last/first) F=female Place of Detention High Court Decision Date District Court Decision Date |
Case Name Date of Incident |
Notes |
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Hayakawa Kiyohide 早川紀代秀 Tokyo 04/05/14 Tokyo HC 00/07/28 Tokyo DC |
Attorney Sakamoto Family Murders (x3) 89/11 |
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井上嘉浩 Inoue Yoshihiro Tokyo 04/05/28 Tokyo HC Death 00/06/06 Tokyo DC LI |
Subway Gassing and others. 94/01~95/03 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. |
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Toyoda Tohru 豊田亨 Tokyo 04/07/28 Tokyo HC 00/07/18 Tokyo DC |
Subway Gassing and others. 95/03/20 etc |
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Hirose Kenichi 広瀬健一 Tokyo 04/07/28 Tokyo HC 00/07/18 Tokyo DC |
Subway Gassing and others. 95/03/20 |
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Shouji (?) Kouichi 庄子幸一 b. 1954/10/28 Tokyo 04/09/07 Tokyo HC 03/04/30 Yokohama DC |
Daiwa Multiple Women Murders 大和連続主婦殺人事件 01/08/29 01/09/19 |
Codefendant was sentenced to life Imprisonment (death was sought). |
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Hayashi Masum(F) 林真須美 b. 61/07/22 Osaka 05/06/28 Osaka HC 02/12/11 Wakayama DC |
Wakayama Curry Case Murders (x4) 98/07/25 etc |
Insists upon innocence. Has support association and publishes a newsletter Aosora Tsuushin. Author of "Shikei Hanketsu ha 'Silouette Romance' wo Kikinagara" Read Hayashi's letter to Michael Fox [ Read ] |
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Sekine Hajime 関根元 Tokyo 05/07/11 Tokyo HC 01/03/21 Urawa DC |
Saitama Multiple (x4) Murders 埼玉連続４人 殺人事件 1993 |
Denies the charge of murder. |
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Kazama Hiroko(F) 風間博子 Tokyo 05/07/11 Tokyo HC 01/03/21 Urawa DC |
Saitama Multiple (x4) Murders 埼玉連続４人 殺人事件 1993 |
Codefendant with Sekine above. Denies the charge of murder. |
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Takahashi Hide 高橋秀 Sendai 05/07/26 Sendai HC 04/03/25 Sendai DC |
賃金業者ら２人殺人事件 Money Lending Double Murders 01/01/09 01/02/03 |
Previous name was Ishikawa |
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Kobayashi Masato 小林正人 Nagoya 05/07/26 Nagoya HC 01/07/09 Nagoya DC |
Multiple Murders by Gang of 3 Youths 少年による連続 リンチ殺人事件 |
Death was demanded for all three youths, and two were sentenced to life imprisonment by district courts, later raised to death by the high courts. [ More ] |
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K. T, Nagoya 05/07/26 Nagoya HC 01/07/09 Nagoya DC L. I. |
Multiple Murders by Gang of 3 Youths 少年による連続 リンチ殺人事件 |
Same as Kobayshi above. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment. Death sentence was imposed upon appeal. Names are with held because they were minors at the time of the crime. [ More ] |
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Komori Atsushi 小森敦 Nagoya 05/07/26 Nagoya HC 01/07/09 Nagoya DC L. I. |
Multiple Murders by Gang of 3 Youths 少年による連続リンチ 殺人事件 |
Same as Kobayshi above. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment. Death sentence was imposed upon appeal. [ More ] |
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Ito Atsushi 伊藤稔 Toyama 06/02/16 Nagoya HC 04/03/26 Toyama DC |
Takaoka Yakuza Chief & Wife Shooting 高岡組長夫婦 射殺事件 00/07/13 |
3 defendants implicated in the shooting. Accomplices received lesser sentences. |
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Niimi Tomomitsu 新見智光 Tokyo 06/03/15 Tokyo HC 02/06/26 Tokyo DC |
Crimes of Aum Shinrikyo 89/11~95/03 |
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Kohinata Masato 小日向将人 Tokyo 06/03/16 Tokyo HC 05/03/28 Maebashi DC |
前橋スナック乱射事件 Maebashi Night Club Shooting Case 03/01/25 |
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Yoshida Junko (F) 吉田純子 Fukuoka 06/05/16 Fukuoka HC 04/09/24 Fukuoka DC |
Multiple Insurance Murders by Nurses 看護士連続保険金 殺人事件 98/01/24~ 99/03/27 |
Sentenced to death despite confession. 2 accomplices received lesser sentences. |
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Suga Mineo 菅峰男 Fukuoka 06/05/24 Fukuoka HC 04/03/11 Fukuoka DC |
Fukuoka Shohnai Multiple Murders 福岡庄内連続 殺人事件 96/06/08~11/19 b. 1951 |
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Teshiba Katsutoshi 手柴勝敏 Fukuoka 06/05/24 Fukuoka HC 04/03/11 Fukuoka DC L.I. |
Fukuoka Shohnai Multiple Murders 福岡庄内連続 殺人事件 96/06/08~11/19 b. 1944 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal |
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Tsuchiya Masami 土屋政美 POD: Tokyo 06/08/18 Tokyo HC 04/01/30 Tokyo DC |
Crimes of Aum Shinrikyo 89/11~95/03 b. 1965 |
Accused of manufacturing lethal gasses but not their release. Did not attend HC trial. |
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Onokawa Mitsunori 小野川光紀 POD: Tokyo 06/09/29 Tokyo DC 04/03/26 Saitama DC |
Pachinko Parlor Multiple Murders 03/02/23~04/01 パチンコ店員連続 殺人事件 |
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Miyagi Yoshie 宮城吉英 06/10/05 Tokyo HC 05/12/12 Chiba DC |
Double Yakuza Murders 05/04/25 b. 1956 |
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Ikushima Kenji 幾島堅治 POD: Toyama 06/10/12 Nagoya HC 05/01/27 Toyama DC |
Takaoka Yakuza Chief & Wife Shooting Case 高岡組長夫婦 射殺事件 00/07/13 b. 1946 |
Previous name was Ohta. Co-defendant with Ito Atsushi currently before the SC. |
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Mori Takemitsu 森健充 b. 1957 POD: Osaka Osaka HC 06/12/15 Osaka DC 05/08/?? L.I. |
Mother Child Arson Murder 平野母子殺害放火事件 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Osaka prison guard. Denies the charges, case based solely on circumstantial evidence. |
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Fujisaki Soji 藤崎宗司 b. 1961 06/12/22 Tokyo HC 05/12/22 Mito DC |
Elderly Women Strangulations(x2) 05/01/２１~28 |
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Ozaki Masayoshi 尾崎政芳 POD: Fukuoka 07/01/16 Fukuoka HC 05/05/16 Fukuoka DC Kokura Branch |
Kaedama Insurance Murders 替え玉保険金等 殺人事件02/01/08~31 |
Previous name was Takemoto |
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Hara Masashi 原正志 b. 57/08/12 POD: Fukuoka 05/05/16 Fukuoka DC Kokura Branch |
Kaedama Insurance Murders 替え玉保険金等 殺人事件 02/01/08~31 |
Previous name was Takemoto |
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Fuchigami Sachiharu 渕上幸春 POD: Miyazaki 07/01/23 Miyazaki HC 03/05/26 Miyazaki DC |
Miyazaki Multiple Murder Case 宮崎連続殺人事件 99/03/25~09/20 |
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Wei Wei 魏巍 POD: Fukuoka 07/03/08 Fukuoka HC 05/05/19 Fukuoka DC |
Fukuoka Family (x4) Murder 福岡一家４人 殺害事件 03/06/20 |
Chinese national. Two alleged accomplices were arrested in China. One sentenced to life, the other was executed in July '05. |
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Kumagai Tokuhisa 熊谷徳久 b. 1940 POD: Tokyo 07/04/25 Tokyo HC Death 06/04/17 Tokyo DC L.I. |
Chinatown Restaurant Owner Shooting 中華料理店主射殺事件 04/05/29 |
Originally sentenced to life Imprisonment. Death sentence imposed on appeal. Sentence of death for a single murder is extremely rare. |
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Ohashi Kenji 大橋健治 07/04/27 Osaka HC 06/11/02 Osaka DC |
Double Women Robbery Murders 2005/04~05 b. 1941 |
Aged 64 at time of the crime. |
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Endo Seiichi 遠藤誠 POD: Tokyo 07/05/31 Tokyo DC 02/10/11 Tokyo DC |
Crimes of Aum Shinrikyo 89/11~95/03 |
Charged with making, but not releasing, the lethal gasses. |
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Nakagawa Tomomasa 中川智正 POD: Tokyo 07/07/13 Tokyo HC 03/10/29 Tokyo DC |
Crimes of Aum Shinrikyo 89/11~95/03 |
Former physician. Sentenced to death despite "showing remorse and offering a apology." [ More ] |
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Matsunaga Futoshi 松永太 b. 1961 07/09/26 Fukuoka HC 05/09/28 Fukuoka DC |
KitaKyushu Multiple Murders (x6) 北九州市の監禁・連続殺人事件 96/02/28 ~ 98/06/07 |
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Takao Yasushi 高尾康司 POD: Tokyo 06/09/28 Tokyo HC 05/02/21 Chiba DC |
Tateyama City Arson Murders (x4) 千葉館山連続放火事件 03/12/18 |
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Matsuda Yukinori 松田幸則 07/10/03 Fukuoka HC 06/09/21 Kumamoto DC |
Uki City Double Murder & Robbery 熊本城市男女２人 強盗殺人事件 2003/10 b. 1973 |
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Ohyama Kiyotaka 大山清陸 POD: Hiroshima 07/10/16 Hiroshima HC 05/04/27 Hiroshima DC |
WifeーFather in Law Double Murder for Insurance Case 広島義父妻保険金等 殺人事件 98/10/11 & 00/03/02 |
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Kitamura Mami (F) 北村真美 07/12/25 Fukuoka HC 06/10/17 Fukuoka DC Kurume Branch |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 04/09/18 b. 1959 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Husband and elder son sentenced on 07/02/27. |
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Kitamura Takahiro 北村孝紘 07/12/25 Fukuoka HC 06/10/17 Fukuoka DC Kurume Branch |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 04/09/18 b. 1974 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Son of Kitamura Mami. |
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Suzuki Yasunori 鈴木泰徳 08/02/07 Fukuoka HC 06/11/13 Fukuoka DC |
Fukuoka Triple Women Murders 04/12/~05/1 b. 1969 |
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Kataoka Kiyoshi 片岡清 b. 1922 08/02/27 Hiroshima HC 06/March Okayama DC L.I. |
Hiroshima-Okayama Double Murder and Robbery 03/09/28 04/12/10 |
Originally sentenced to L.I. Death penalty imposed upon appeal. Aged 76 at time of sentence. |
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Watanabe Minoru 渡辺実 POD: Tokyo 08/02/29 Tokyo HC 06/06/15 Fukushima DC Kohriyama Branch |
Iwaki Murder for Insurance Case いわき保険金 殺人事件 |
Of the 6 defendants in the case, 5 others received lesser sentences. |
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Morita Katsumi 守田克実 b. 1950 08/03/03 Tokyo HC 06/12/19 Chiba DC |
Mabuchi Motor Murders& others. マブチモーター殺人放火事件等 2002/08~11 |
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Ohkura Osamu 大倉修 08/03/25 Tokyo DC 07/02/26 Shizuoka DC |
Colleague & wife double murders '04/09 '05/09 |
Previous name was Taki. |
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Kitamura Jitsuo 北村実雄 b. 1945 08/03/27 Fukuoka HC 07/02/27 Fukuoka DC (Kurume Branch) |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. [ More ] |
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Kitamura Takashi 北村孝 b. 1982 08/03/27 Fukuoka HC 07/02/27 Fukuoka DC (Kurume Branch) |
Ohmuta Quadruple Murders 大牟田４人殺人事件 2004/09/18 |
Entire family of four sentenced to death. Denies the charges of murder. |
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Asa Yoshihiro 阿佐吉広 08/04/21 Tokyo HC 06/10/11 Kofu DC |
Employee Triple Murder 会社員３人殺人事件 '97 &' 00 b. 1949 |
Admits injuring one victim, denies the two other charges. Claims underlings fabricated stories in exchange for lighter sentences. |
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Name Withheld Hiroshima 08/04/22 Hiroshima HC Death 06/06/20 SC (Remanded) 02/03/14 Hiroshima HC L.I. 00/03/22 Yamaguchi DC L.I. |
Hikari City Mother Daughter Murder 光市母子殺人事件 1999/04/14 |
Youngest person to be sentenced to death in modern history- Aged 18 and one month at time of crime. Suffered domestic violence through childhood. Twice sentenced to life imprisonment. [ More ] |
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小林竜司 b. 1985 08/05/20 Osaka HC 07/05/22 Osaka DC |
Okayama College Student Murders (x2) 2006/06 |
Aged 21 at time of crime. Willingly confessed and turned himself into police before arrest. High Court decision issued irregularly fast. [ More ] |
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Hamasaki Katsuji 浜崎勝次 b. 1948 08/09/26 Tokyo HC 07/10/26 Chiba DC |
Double Yakuza Chief Murder 2005/04/25 |
Co-defendant with Miyagi Yoshihide (above). A third conspirator committed suicide. |
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Xie Yidi 謝依俤 08/10/09 Tokyo DC 06/10/02 Tokyo DC |
Hayakawa Family Robbery Murders 早川夫妻強盗殺人事件 02/08/13 b. 1977 |
Defendant is a Chinese national. (Family name is pronounced "Shey") |