An 88-year-old man in Japan, who was wrongfully convicted of a 1966 murder case and spent almost five decades in prison, is now seeking financial compensation from the government. His lawyer has requested about 217 million yen from the state, arguing that his long and unjust imprisonment caused severe mental suffering. The request was submitted to the Shizuoka District Court after his acquittal was officially confirmed in October last year.
This case has been one of the most tragic examples of wrongful conviction in Japan. The man, Iwao Hakamata, had been sentenced to death in 1980, but after new evidence surfaced, his conviction was overturned. His lawyers and family are now fighting for justice and proper compensation for the years he lost behind bars.
Seeking Compensation for Wrongful Imprisonment
According to Japanese law, individuals who have been wrongfully convicted and later acquitted are eligible for financial compensation. The Criminal Compensation Act states that a wrongly imprisoned person can receive up to 12,500 yen per day of detention. The total amount of compensation is decided based on several factors, including the number of years spent in prison and the impact on the person’s life.
Since Hakamata spent nearly 47 years and seven months behind bars, his lawyer calculated the compensation amount and formally submitted the request. His case is unique, as he holds the record for being the longest-serving death row inmate in the world.
Apart from seeking compensation, Hakamata’s lawyer has also filed a request to recover the legal fees spent on his case over the years.
The Impact of Long-Term Imprisonment
Hakamata’s wrongful conviction and prolonged incarceration have had a severe impact on his mental health. Due to his long years in solitary confinement, his ability to communicate and interact with people has significantly deteriorated. His older sister, Hideko Hakamata, who is now 91 years old, has been taking care of him and continues to fight for justice on his behalf.
A member of Hakamata’s legal team, Hideyo Ogawa, emphasized that the court should consider the extreme suffering he has endured. He stated:
“We want the court to understand that Mr. Hakamata has lived through unimaginable pain. His mental state has been permanently affected, and he continues to live in a world of delusions because of his prolonged imprisonment.”
A Case That Shocked Japan
Iwao Hakamata was arrested on August 18, 1966, when he was working as a live-in employee at a miso (fermented soybean paste) manufacturing company. He was accused of murdering the company’s senior managing director, his wife, and their two children in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture. He was also charged with setting fire to their house after the killings.
Despite his repeated claims of innocence, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to death in 1980. However, his trial was controversial, and many believed that the evidence used to convict him was weak or even fabricated.
The Long Battle for Justice
For many years, Hakamata’s family and legal team worked tirelessly to prove his innocence. They argued that investigators had manipulated evidence and forced him to confess under severe pressure.
Finally, in March 2014, after nearly 48 years in prison, new evidence surfaced that cast serious doubt on his conviction. The court agreed to reopen his case, and he was temporarily released while the legal process continued.
In September 2023, the Shizuoka District Court officially overturned his conviction, confirming that the original investigation had been flawed and that some evidence had been fabricated. Prosecutors decided not to challenge the court’s decision, making his acquittal final in October 2023.
Filing a Lawsuit Against the Government
In addition to seeking criminal compensation, Hakamata’s legal team is also preparing to file a separate lawsuit against the central government and the Shizuoka prefectural government. They argue that the authorities wrongfully accused him and failed to conduct a fair investigation, which resulted in nearly five decades of unjust suffering.
This case has drawn widespread attention, both in Japan and internationally, as an example of how the justice system can fail an innocent person. Many human rights activists and legal experts have criticized the handling of the case and have called for reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Psychological and Physical Toll
Being in solitary confinement for such a long period has left deep scars on Hakamata’s mind. Experts say that prisoners on death row often experience extreme anxiety because they never know when they will be executed. Hakamata lived in this constant state of fear for nearly five decades.
Now, at 88 years old, he struggles with serious mental health issues. His family and lawyers believe that even if he receives compensation, no amount of money can ever undo the suffering he has endured.
