TheNUFS Times No15 - Voices From a Divided Society: Death Penalty The Global Situation

Aug 20, 2026

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TheNUFS Times No15 examines Japan’s ongoing death-penalty debate through on-campus interviews and public perspectives from Tokyo and Nisshin City. It contrasts arguments against capital punishment—grounded in human rights, psychological harm, secrecy, and the risk of irreversible judicial error—with supporters’ views emphasizing order, deterrence, historical continuity, and perceived fairness. Student opinions are shown as divided across generations, with many young adults favoring life imprisonment without parole.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time12 min

AccessFree to download

Death Penalty: The Global Situation

Voices From a Divided Society

Public demonstrations and student interviews

Arguments against capital punishment

Arguments supporting capital punishment

Youth opinions and proposed alternatives

Hidden Gem No money and no Ɵme for Tokyo? Let’s explore Aichi Pref.! Page 6 TheNUFS Times 15th Edition, December, 2025 Nagoya University of Foreign Studies 57 Takenoyama, Iwasakicho, Nisshin, Aichi 470-0197 Japan DriŌ NaƟon How Japan became the heart of car culture Page 7 Anime and Animism Support from screens to Japanese Shinto and Samsara Page 2 Silk & Streetwear When the kimono meets modern Japan Page 3 | Japan’s Gamble The future of pachinko | Page
4 | Working Abroad Page Haontpo marotecntcaulin cturuallturideenƟty 5 | | --- | --- | --- | Christmas in Japan How Christmas found its way to Japan Page 8 Jൺඉൺඇ ൺඇൽ ඍඁൾ Dൾൺඍඁ Pൾඇൺඅඍඒ Voices From a Divided Society By Tijn KLUMPER, Chrystia L. D. PAMINTUAN, Mai TACHIBANA, Samuel M. TEIXEIRA LOPEZ “T deedlkinaegpetoumnsaaanlytl,sos,,u”tfor mer Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka once stated. Japan remains one of the few developed countries that continue to carry out executions, primarily for severe murder cases. Since the mid-20th century, more than 110 nations have abolished capital punishment, reflecting a steady global shift toward alternative forms of justice. As this international movement grows stronger, Japan is confronted with the question of whether to preserve its longstanding system or reconsider it for the future. This article examines the perspectives shaping that debate. On a cool afternoon in Shibuya, Tokyo, an antideath penalty rally draws students, activists, and passersby. Their signs are simple but powerful: “A mistake cannot be un done” and “No justice through death.” Among them stands Mr. Ryo Kachi, a long-time volunteer with Amnesty International Japan. He listens as speakers remind the crowd of past wrongful convictions. When asked why he continues this work, he explains,“When people learn the reality of executions, many start questioning whether the state should take a life.” His tone is calm, shaped by years of trying to persuade a public that often disagrees. In contrast, the atmosphere at Nisshin Campus of Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS) is completely different. A student, Mr. Yoshiki Ota, explains why he believes Japan should keep capital punishment.“Keeping criminals in prison is expensive,” he says.“People pay taxes for their food and clothing. I think many people support the death penalty because it has always been there.” His reasoning is practical, and he speaks with confidence. Another NUFS student, Ms. Aina Honda, connects her support to history.“After the war, there were too many criminals to hold. The death penalty helped maintain order,” she explains. At the same time, she acknowledges the possibility of change, noting that social media and exposure to other countries’systems have influenced her generation.“Many young people are curi- Mr. Kachi (Amnesty InternaƟonal Japan) Death Penalty The Global Situation ● No execuƟons ● Not used in 10 years ● ExcepƟonal use ● widespread use Source: The 2013 classiﬁcaƟon of execuƟons published by the Irish online media outlet “The journal” Interview with NUFS students, Nisshin City, Aichi Pref. Left: Ms. Honda Below: Mr. Ota ous about how things work elsewhere,” she continues,“so maybe opinions will shift.” One more supporter, who asked to remain anonymous, expresses her views strongly.“It’s not right that the murderer gets to live a long life while the victim never can,” she insists. She quickly dismisses alternatives to execution and adds that discussions about wrongful convictions“do not gain much public attention,”suggesting widespread trust in the justice system. Together, these scenes, one rooted in human rights concerns, the other in ideas of justice and order, capture the emotional divide within Japan’s ongoing debate. Japan’s death penalty system remains highly secretive. According to Mr. Kachi, inmates are informed of their execution only hours before it occurs, a practice he describes as psychologically

FAQs

What major themes structure the death-penalty debate in this article?

The article contrasts human-rights concerns and the risk of irreversible wrongful convictions with arguments for order, deterrence, and the perceived fairness of execution.

How do opponents describe Japan’s execution system?

Opponents highlight secrecy, including inmates being informed only hours before execution, which they describe as psychologically devastating and hard for the public to evaluate.

What alternatives do some young adults suggest?

Many young adults oppose the death penalty and propose life imprisonment without parole as a more acceptable alternative.

Aug 20, 2026

Upload by Gloria