Hakamata crime

In the early hours of 30th June 1966, a fire broke out at a miso manufacturing company in Shizuoka city. The accident almost destroyed the building. The bodies of four members of the managing director’s family were found in the burnt-out house. At that time, the police arrested Mr. Hakamata who was a live-in employee for murdering the family, setting fire to the home, and stealing 200,000 yen in cash. He initially denied murdering the family and robbery, but later he confessed following beatings and interrogations that lasted up to 12 hours a day. A year after Hakamata’s arrest, some clothes were found in a miso tank. Those clothes were bloodstained and were used to incriminate him. 

During the trial, he maintained his innocence, but he was sentenced to death, and the sentence was finalized in 1980.

For years, however, Hakamata’s lawyer argued that the DNA recovered from the clothes did not match his. They also further suggested that police could fabricate the evidence.

Their argument was enough to persuade the Judge and Hakamata was released from jail in 2014 as remains on confirmed death row as a row prisoner and was granted a retrial.

In March 2023, the Tokyo High Court allowed a retrial to begin, and after a total 15 hearing, the court was acquitted. It had been 58 years and a month passed before he was innocent.

Postcard from Kakisa Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada

 

Hi Jim!

My friend and I participated Northern Lights tour three nights and we could see northern lights every nights!

Actually, northern lights were not green like a calendar first time. I had seen it white colour. But I could see green colour 2nd day. That is it takes some getting used to see northern lights.

Were going to Seattle via Vancouver tomorrow, then I'm visiting the museum of pop culture! I can't wait!

Best wishes,

Makiko

Attack by terrorism in Japan

 I still remember the two incidents.There were gas incidents that exploded in Matsumoto and in the Tokyo subway.Both incidents were caused by terrorists in a religious organization named Aum Shinrikyo.

In June 1994, the first one in Matsumoto happened and lawyers were targeted because Aum Shinrikyo was trying to build a branch and there was a dispute over the land contract. The 1st informer Mr. Kono was suspected of murder due to media feeding frenzy and poor investigation by police because we had never heard “Sarin”. At that time, one of his children was a student at same high school and I suspect that she had a really difficult time with an incorrect assumption about his father.

In March 1995, they attacked the Tokyo subway using Sarin. It was called “Tokyo Sarin Attack”. They targeted people in Kasumigaseki, where government ministries and the Metropolitan Police Office are situated.

A lawyer Sakamoto and his family perished prior to the sarin gas incident in Matsumoto. Sakamoto, the lawyer, was in charge of handling matters related to Aum Shinrikyo.Aum Shinrikyo always targets individuals and society that are against Aum Shinrikyo.

The most of criminals was already punished. However, some religious organizations from Aum Shinrikyo are still working. I am afraid what purpose the organizations have and what action they take in the future.