HAMAMATSU, Shizuoka -- The chief of the Shizuoka District Public Prosecutors Office apologized to a former death row inmate at his home here on Nov. 27 after he was acquitted over the murders of four people in 1996.

The death sentence for Iwao Hakamada, 88, had been finalized for the June 1966 killing of four members of a family in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Shimizu (now part of the city of Shizuoka), but his acquittal was cemented in a recent retrial.

Shizuoka prosecutors office chief Hideo Yamada visited Hakamada's home in the prefectural city of Hamamatsu, and stated, "I would like to tell you directly that we have no intention of saying that Mr. Hakamada is the culprit in this case, nor do we see you as the offender."

Yamada met with Hakamada and his 91-year-old sister Hideko. Yamada told them, "The legal status (of Iwao) was unstable for a considerable period of time, and Iwao and Hideko spent their days in a state of pain beyond words." He then apologized, saying, "As the prosecution which plays a role in the criminal justice system, we are sorry."

Hideko responded, "I have no intention to say anything to the prosecutors at this point," and added, "Both Iwao and I think this is our fate, so we are very happy that his acquittal has been finalized."

The acquittal ruling recognized that the evidence in the case had been fabricated by the investigative authorities. In response, Prosecutor-General Naomi Unemoto issued a statement saying, "This is an unacceptable ruling that contains many problems and should have been appealed to a higher court for a decision." The prosecution nevertheless decided not to appeal. Unemoto added, "As the prosecution which is part of the criminal justice system, we are sorry."

Hakamada's death sentence was finalized in 1980, and he was imprisoned for 34 years on death row. After his second request for a retrial was approved, the Shizuoka District Court acquitted him on Sept. 26, 2024, which was later finalized. Shizuoka Prefectural Police chief Takayoshi Tsuda apologized to Iwao and Hideko on Oct. 21.

(Japanese original by Kenta Oka, Shizuoka Bureau; and Hideyuki Yamada, Hamamatsu Local Bureau)