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EXPLAINED: Iwao hakamada | Rare Historical Photos

Tokyo authorities apologise at grave of wrongfully accused man

Police and prosecutors acknowledge errors in investigation of Shizuo Aishima case

The Independent UK · Aug 25, 2025

Family Fights For Death-row Retrial Under Japan's 'Snail-paced' System

Since his teenage years, Koji Hayashi has dreaded one thing: his stubborn, once-vivacious mother being hanged for murder after failing to win her long campaign for a retrial.

International Business Times · Mar 28, 2025

Ex-judge Fights Japan's 'Unopenable Door' Retrial System

The world's longest-serving death row prisoner, Iwao Hakamada, won compensation from Japan this week after almost five decades in jail -- and he owes his freedom to a judge with steely determination.

International Business Times · Mar 26, 2025

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Boxer on death row for 46 years after he was framed for quadruple murder by police awarded record payout

Iwao Hakamada is believed to be the world’s longest-serving death row inmate

The Independent UK · Mar 26, 2025

A Japanese police chief apologizes to a man acquitted after 50 years on death row

A Japanese police chief has apologized to Iwao Hakamada for his decades-long suffering because of a wrongful conviction that had kept him on death row decades until last month when he was acquitted in a retrial

The Independent UK · Oct 21, 2024

'This is the beginning': 91-year-old sister of longest death row inmate sees hope in his acquittal

After helping lead the fight to free her younger brother from nearly a half-century on death row, Hideko Hakamada feels she and her brother are beginning a new chapter of their lives

The Independent UK · Oct 19, 2024

Japan prosecutors will not appeal acquittal of world's longest death-row inmate in retrial

Japanese prosecutors say they will not appeal the acquittal of the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate in a retrial last month, bringing closure to the 1966 murder case after more than a half-century of legal battles

The Independent UK · Oct 8, 2024

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After freeing a man who spent half a century on death row, will Japan keep using the death penalty?

Police fabricated key evidence that led to the conviction of Iwao Hakamada in 1968, but capital punishment still has popular support

The Guardian - AU · Oct 4, 2024

The world’s longest-serving death row inmate acquitted in Japan mulls suing the government

A lawyer for the world’s longest-serving death row inmate — who was acquitted in a retrial last week of a 1966 quadruple murder — says the defense team is considering filing a damages suit against the government for ruining the man’s life and his mental health by keeping him in…

The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2024

Longest-serving Death Row Prisoner Hails Acquittal 'Victory'

The world's longest-serving death row prisoner thanked his supporters for helping him achieve "complete victory" after a Japanese court last week overturned his decades-old murder conviction.

International Business Times · Sep 30, 2024

Man on Death Row for Half a Century Declared Innocent After Revelation That Investigators Faked Evidence Against Him

Hakamada insisted he was innocent, but later gave a forced confession after he said investigators beat and interrogated him relentlessly.

Latin Times · Sep 27, 2024

Inmate Acquitted After 46 Years On Death Row

The 88-year-old man had been convicted of murder in 1968 and spend decades mostly in solitary confinement.

International Business Times · Sep 26, 2024

Japanese Court Acquits Former Boxer In 1966 Quadruple Murder

88-year-old Iwao Hakamada acquitted in quadruple murder case after 48 years on death row, sparking debate on abolishing death penalty in Japan.

Japanese Court Acquits Former Boxer In Quadruple Murder Case

Acquittal of Iwao Hakamada in quadruple murder retrial exposes fabricated evidence, sparking debate on death penalty in Japan.

Japan court acquits former boxer of murder after decades on death row

Judge acknowledges Iwao Hakamada was wrongfully convicted for murders at miso factory in 1966.

The Guardian - AU · Sep 26, 2024

Japanese man who spent 46 years on death row cleared of murders

Iwao Hakamada found not guilty of 1966 murder of his boss and his family after a retrial was ordered a decade ago

The Guardian - UK · Jul 7, 2024

Man who spent 45 years on death row in Japan hopes for chance to clear name

Iwao Hakamada, 88, who spent longer than anyone in the world awaiting execution, awaits murder retrial verdict

International Business Times · May 22, 2024

Death Penalty Sought Again For 88-year-old In Japan Murder Saga

Japanese prosecutors again sought the death penalty in the retrial on Wednesday of an ex-boxer who was the world's longest-serving death row prisoner until his release in 2014, local media reported.

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France 24 · Mar 24, 2023

Death penalty and high conviction rates: A deep dive into Japan's criminal justice system

At 87 years old, Iwao Hakamada is on the verge of finding true freedom, more than 50 years after being sentenced to death for murders he says he did not commit. Tokyo's high court ordered a retrial this month, acknowledging that key evidence that led to his conviction had likely…

The Independent UK · Mar 13, 2023

Japan court orders retrial for 87-year death row ex-boxer

Tokyo’s high court has ordered a retrial for an 87-year-old former boxer who has been on death row for more than five decades

The Guardian - UK · Mar 13, 2023

Japanese man granted retrial after 45 years on death row

Iwao Hakamada, 87, was convicted of four murders in 1968 but granted ‘temporary release’ in 2014 after new evidence emerged

Al Jazeera · Mar 13, 2023

Japan court backs retrial for 87-year-old death row inmate

Iwao Hakamada was held in solitary confinement for 45 years until DNA evidence emerged to undermine his conviction.

Evening Standard · Mar 13, 2023

Iwao Hakamada: World’s longest-serving death row prisoner granted retrial

Tokyo’s High Court orders retrial for 87-year-old former boxer Iwao Hakamada after years-long legal battle

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