Japan Law Geek

Here is a unique idea – let’s review a human being for a change… the Minister of Justice, Mr Toshio Ogawa.

There is, of course, a knack to passing judgment on someone else which, coincidentally, appears to be part of the new Justice Minister’s job description. According to the (at least) the title of the Japan Times, Ogawa “feels signing off on hangings just part of job description“. This is misleading though, because he does go on to explain in the interview that “I don’t really want to do it, but that is one of the justice minister’s job descriptions. With 130 inmates on death row and public opinion showing 85 percent of Japanese support the death sentence, it is inexcusable not to sign off on executions“.

Fair point. Although I am vehemently opposed to capital punishment, any Japanese Justice Minister would be in a difficult position when it comes to signing off on an execution. A 2009 Survey found that 85.8% were supported the death penalty. Read more…

Just when you thought Christmas had come and gone, I’ve just discovered (though somewhat belatedly) a present from the LDP that there is an LDP-sponsored bill currently being considered in the House of Representatives that would establish yet another public holiday to commemorate the “restoration of sovereignty” to Japan following the Treaty of San Francisco. Read more…