Should Japan abolish the Death Penalty?

[EmperorHirohito]

See our other related thread: Death penalty in Japan​

For those of you who don't know, and for those of you who do know, Japan has the death penalty for murder. The method of execution used is Hanging. Prisoners who are on death row in Japan are given very little warning as to when they are to be executed. It is often on the day of their execution that they are told that they are to be executed later that day and have no chance to contact family members and say their goodbyes.

And from 1993 - 2000, Japan had only executed 39 people in total.

So I ask you, do you believe that Japan should abolish the death penalty and that murderers should spend the rest of their lives in prison at the expense of the taxpayer? Or do you think that Japan should keep the death penalty as other countries around the world do execute those who commit murder? Or doesn't it bother you that Japan executes people for murder and that the subject of capital punishment doesn't interest you in the slightest?

 

[KirinMan]

Before I voted and made this post, I looked at the poll results and saw that you, EH, didn't vote. I wonder if there is a reason for that. What is your "vote"?

Well, I don't think it should be abolished, particularly after the Sarin gas attacks and the AUM cult. There are several cult members, including the leader Matsumoto Chizuo, a.k.a. Asahara Shoko currently sitting on death row. To me, the sooner they are executed, the better. It has been 12 years since the attacks, and there has been no closure for the people who lost loved ones or were injured in the attacks.

The method of killing makes no difference to me, in fact I often wonder if it is a deterent of sorts as well. The Japanese courts do not often hand down death sentences unless they are for particularly heinous murders or crimes involving murder and threats to society, like the Wakayama Curry case.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

Sorry about that Obeika, in setting up this thread and poll and calling up info about the death penalty I forgot to vote. But I have voted now ok.

And Yes I read about the Sarin gas attacks, and I have to agree with you, the sooner they are executed, the sooner the familys who lost people and those who were hurt can move on in life and put closure to what had happened.

 

[Sarapva]

I haven't voted yet because I don't really know what I think about the death penalty. I don't like seeing movie scenes where someone's executed (which is as close as I've come to an execution) - in fact, they leave me feeling very disturbed, especially electrocution. That controlled kind of killing just doesn't seem right. And I'm not convinced that death is a punishment - some might prefer to be put to death instead of living a long life in prison.

 

[KirinMan]

No problem. Thanks for adding the comments as well. This is a very divisive issue to many people, quite litterally a life and death thing where there is very little fence sitting. I hope that people come here and make their vote and post a comment, two or three. Good topic EH.

And I'm not convinced that death is a punishment - some might prefer to be put to death instead of living a long life in prison.

Knowing your concern for animals in nature I can understand your point of view.

What would a proper punishment be? Go back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition or drawing and quartering a person for their misdeeds? I dont think you mean that either.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

For those who really want to know, I am in favour of the death penalty. I have seen what luxuries prisoners in the UK can have in their cells. A few years ago, I helped repaint a floating prison ship in southern England. Recently, I even applied to be a Prison Officer within the UK prison service.

However, when it comes to execution, I believe that it should be quick and fatal. From what I can remember, in the old Soviet Union, it was a bullet in the back of the head that killed you quickly and painlessly.

 

[Chidoriashi]

I'm not for getting rid of the death penalty totally, but some things about it need to be changed. For one, they should use lethal injection (in my opinion is seems to be the most humane way). Next though whole, not being told until the day of thing is pretty crappy, and not letting family members say good-bye to the condemned, also needs to be done away with. And lastly, and someone already said they might do this, but it should be left to only the henious cases. Japanese prisons from my knowledge really suck though, so I cannot say that life imprisonment is not much less of a punishment here.

 

[Sarapva]

Knowing your concern for animals in nature I can understand your point of view.
What would a proper punishment be? Go back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition or drawing and quartering a person for their misdeeds? I dont think you mean that either.

I think being in prison is probably punishment enough, though I'm no expert on this and haven't researched this topic. The only drawback I can see is whether there's the possibility that the person might someday be let out of prison, but in murder cases that's probably not likely. As far as having nice living quarters, as EH pointed out, I doubt that anyone would prefer living in a nice prison to being out of prison (though there are probably exceptions to that).

I believe in a universal karma, which is to say that every deed comes back to you, good and bad. Murdering another person is something that would bring horrific consequences to the murderer, according to this belief. So I believe that every murderer will be punished at some time, even if he gets away with it in his current life. (And yes, Obeika, I guess this is similar to how I feel about people killing animals.)

If there is going to be an execution, the quicker the death the better.

 

[Davey]

I am against the Death Penalty, and find it the easiest punnishment a murderer can get. With easy I mean, he doesn't suffer.

We are indeed paying their tax money, to keep them in Jail, give them food, etc. But I mean, as you write down as well in your post. How much tax do we pay for 39 of theses guys?

Who are we to decide about live and death, and what punishment is death to the prisoner? It sounds more as a relieve for us than a punishment.

How about the punishment his/her family will get?

 

[Half-n-Half]

I voted against abolishing it. I think Obeika made some really good points in his posts. I also agree with Chidoriashi that if it really is true they get the day of to find out about their execution, that should be changed. Not all murderers are animals; some are just average Joes. Multiple life sentences to keep a convict in jail for the remainder of their life also eats up a lot of taxes. It's ironic because it's almost like "punishing" the public for what the murderer did. The death penalty up front is more expensive, but over time life sentencing is higher.

Top 9 Pro Death Penalty Arguments

Shows some figures about halfway down. Might be a little bias looking at the title.

I believe in a universal karma, which is to say that every deed comes back to you, good and bad. Murdering another person is something that would bring horrific consequences to the murderer, according to this belief.

I think this is a very dangerous belief. According to this we should not punish anyone for anything, including murder, because their karma will eventually come back to punish them. I know this is an extreme view, but it could still lead to lax punishments for serious crimes. Try telling this belief to any murder victim's family, and you will probably get a cold shoulder at best.

 

[nanook]

The question for me is: Is there "good" murder? Someone murders somebody else, which is bad, and, as a punishment, gets murdered for it, which is good? Or, you are at war as a soldier, then you murder somebody, which makes you a hero, which is good. You murder the same person, when not at war, which is very bad, so you get murdered for it, which is good?

Before I understand (and agree to!) these inconsistencies exactly, I vote to abolish the death penalty.

Whether you trust the justice system in your country to always get the verdict right, could be another question, as the death penalty is not reversible, at least for now .

 

[Mycernius]

I am against the death penalty, and, therefore, for Japan abolishing it. People say that by executing prisoners that you are saving tax, but the tax money is being used up by the endless appeals that some of these prisoners have. Insome cases in the US those on death row have died a natural death because of the amount of years wasted on appeals. I also believe, like Dutch, that they should suffer for what they have done. Some prisoners want they death penatly, as it either makes them martyrs in some bizzare ideals, Timothy MacVeigh for example, or they want it as a release from the years of imprisonment that they have endured, as recently shown in Italy I think, will have to check on that.
There is also the little doubt that they person executed could be innocent. There have been a few executions when the victim has turned out to be innocent and a vast payout has to be given to the person family.

 

[maushan3]

There is also the little doubt that they person executed could be innocent. There have been a few executions when the victim has turned out to be innocent and a vast payout has to be given to the person family.

Well, most people imprisoned are believed to be innocent, and I think being in jail is one hell of a punishment, so I don't think this should a reason for the abolishment of that penalty.

The point here is making people who made horrible things to pay the most for what they did. They need to face the consequences and, well, this is questionable to me because some people prefer to just die than being in jail, so it is very difficult to decide. The point is, they need to pay for what they did and affront the consequences, whether it be by doing time in jail or paying with their lives. They should be punished for doing bad things while being aware of the law.

Mauricio

 

[Sarapva]

I think this is a very dangerous belief. According to this we should not punish anyone for anything, including murder, because their karma will eventually come back to punish them. I know this is an extreme view, but it could still lead to lax punishments for serious crimes. Try telling this belief to any murder victim's family and you will probably get a cold-shoulder at best.

I don't think that the belief in karma means not punishing people for crimes. That's not what I meant by karma. The punishment they get could be part of their karmic debt. I mean, in a higher sense, they will pay it back one way or another. But that doesn't mean murderers should run loose, free to murder anyone they choose.

The point that nanook made about whether there is "good" murder - I wonder about that, too: do two wrongs make a right? Aren't the executioners committing murder as well? Is it really justified to do exactly what the criminal did?

 

[Elizabeth]

For those who really want to know I am in favour of the death penalty. I have seen what luxuries prisoners in the UK can have in their cells, I did help repaint a floating prison ship in southern England a few years ago. Recently I even applied to be a Prison Officer within the UK prison service. However when it comes to execution I believe that it should be quick and fatal. From what I can remember in the old Soviet Union it was a bullet in the back of the head that killed you, quick and painless.

That's all well and good for England, but if the conditions in Japan happened in the US they would rightly be considered a method of torture. You can read more about the horror that is a Japanese death row isolation cell here.

On Japan's death row, executions in secret

 

[KirinMan]

You can read more about the horror that is a Japanese death row isolation cell here.
On Japan's death row, executions in secret

Good at least society knows that they wont escape and they are being punished for their crimes

Also they should have thought about that before they committed their crimes. The punishment fits the crime.

 

[Mycernius]

Also they should have thought about that before they committed their crimes. The punishment fits the crime.

That is all very well in an ideal world, but it isn't one. Your average psychotic will not consider the course of his (no sexism implied, but most psychotic killers are men) crime. It makes perfect sense to them. It wouldn't deter a fanatic, be it religious or some other ideal, they don't care, they want to make a statement, and don't really care about what comes to them. In other cases, ie: the murder for money, the murderer would think that they had covered everything. They are usually shocked to be discovered. In most cases they are fully aware of the punishment, they just don't care, or think that they won't be caught.

 

[Half-n-Half]

That's no excuse for commiting the crime. Even if they weren't aware of the consequences or just didn't care, they need to be punished like any other murderer.. Like Obeika said, the punishment fits the crime. Also, they won't be on the streets, free to commit another crime, oblivious to the consequences involved.

 

[Elizabeth]

Good at least society knows that they wont escape and they are being punished for their crimes
Also they should have thought about that before they committed their crimes. The punishment fits the crime.

So you would error on the side of safety to society (which is already extremely safe) against the possibility of an wrongful sentence and possible death even for someone that may even have been forced into confessing but didn't in truth commit the crime ?

The rate of conviction in Japan is already close to 100% which makes me extremely suspicious of a highly prosecution biased system. It is closer to 70-80% in the West and I think there have still been around 500 wrongful convictions that have been uncovered in the US to date.

 

[KirinMan]

They are usually shocked to be discovered. In most cases they are fully aware of the punishment, they just don't care, or think that they won't be caught.

And I have zero sympathy for them when they are on Japanese death row in the conditions described in the link.

I dont have any statiistics to back this up but I dont think that the majority of murderers are phsycotic maniacs either. Just regular people like you and me. Sure there are physco's out there but those are not the ones that I am talking about when I "agree" with the death penalty. The sick need attention, and should be cared for.

Take the case of AUM's Matsumoto Chizuo as an example, Is he sick or just acting, he seems to be faking mental illness to delay the obvious, if death row is a bleak as written then hell I say let him rot there for another 10 years or so to pay for his part in terrorizing the society here.

So you would error on the side of safety to society (which is already extremely safe) against the possibility of an wrongful sentence and possible death even for someone that may even have been forced into confessing but didn't in truth commit the crime ?

This doesnt sound like a question to me but more like you are making a judgement about how I may think or feel based upon a response to your previous post. If you think this society is "extremely safe" then there wouldnt be a need for death row in the first place. It isnt that safe, but it is relatively safe in comparison to the US. I think people in the US have gotten numb to the daily violence that occurs there and are no longer shocked by murder.

For clarification and so noone reading this misunderstand we are talking about convicted murderers on death row, not the chance of a wrongful sentence for other crimes, this discussion is about the death penalty only

So to save you the trouble of having to rewrite and actually ask me this question a second time I will say with an emphatic yes I would err on the side of society vs the rights or freedom of a convicted killer.

Even if the system convicts a person wrongfully, the snail pace of the said system gives the convicted plenty of time in most cases to appeal their sentences. As in the case in the link.

The rate of conviction in Japan is already close to 100% which makes me extremely suspicious of a highly prosecution biased system. It is closer to 70-80% in the West and I think there have still been around 500 wrongful convictions that have been uncovered in the US to date

So, it just means the cops here dont prosecute if they dont have a case, it's that plain and simple.

I dont accept your assumption that just because the US has uncovered 500 wrongful convictions that the same exists here. That is just too far of a leap of imagination. The two systems are totally different.

I am a bit surprised that you, Elizabeth, would try to compare apples and oranges to attempt to strengthen your position.

Not to say that the system is infallable as no system anywhere is, mistakes have been and will be made in the future as well. we are human.

 

[caster51]

The rate of conviction in Japan is already close to 100% which makes me extremely suspicious of a highly prosecution biased system. It is closer to 70-80% in the West and I think there have still been around 500 wrongful convictions that have been uncovered in the US to date.

I bilieve so then The rate of conviction in Japan is already close to 100%.
the grey and doubt are never punished...
It doesn't become a Death Penalty only by killing one.

 

[KirinMan]

It doesn't become a Death Penalty only by killing one.

Question here, are you refering to the slim chance that an innocent person could be executed?




@MO

 

[Elizabeth]

And I have zero sympathy for them when they are on Japanese death row in the conditions described in the link.
I dont have any statiistics to back this up but I dont think that the majority of murderers are phsycotic maniacs either. Just regular people like you and me. Sure there are physco's out there but those are not the ones that I am talking about when I "agree" with the death penalty. The sick need attention, and should be cared for.
Take the case of AUM's Matsumoto Chizuo as an example, Is he sick or just acting, he seems to be faking mental illness to delay the obvious, if death row is a bleak as written then hell I say let him rot there for another 10 years or so to pay for his part in terrorizing the society here.
This doesnt sound like a question to me but more like you are making a judgement about how I may think or feel based upon a response to your previous post. If you think this society is "extremely safe" then there wouldnt be a need for death row in the first place. It isnt that safe, but it is relatively safe in comparison to the US. I think people in the US have gotten numb to the daily violence that occurs there and are no longer shocked by murder.
For clarification and so noone reading this misunderstand we are talking about convicted murderers on death row, not the chance of a wrongful sentence for other crimes, this discussion is about the death penalty only
So to save you the trouble of having to rewrite and actually ask me this question a second time I will say with an emphatic yes I would err on the side of society vs the rights or freedom of a convicted killer.
Even if the system convicts a person wrongfully, the snail pace of the said system gives the convicted plenty of time in most cases to appeal their sentences. As in the case in the link.

That piece was a general portrait describing the harsh conditions endured by Japanese death row inmates. No details on legal status of were given for any of the cases.

Unless there's been a major effort at redress since 2005, the last time a retrial petition was even granted was 1989 if you believe the excerpts from this book by the Hoover Institute, a conservative American think tank.

http://www.hoover.org/publications/policyreview/2931521.html

 

[caster51]

I think Japan should keep the Death Penalty.
It is necessary to pile up all evidences and to execute the judgment of the
capital punishment unlimitedly with 100%

Even Life in prison is a parole in 15 years.
I think this is wrong.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

If the death penalty was abolished not only in Japan but around the world, and murderers were let out of prison on parole say after only 15 years, and killed yet again, how would the general public feel about the justice system?

Do you think people would start campaigning for the restoration of the death penalty or just do nothing about it because they dont want to get involved in politics?