The speaker will explain why it is especially urgent for Japan to join the growing number of countries that do not use the death penalty, and why we should continue to oppose capital punishment in all cases.

In June this year, Sugaya Toshikazu, aged 62, was released from death row after retesting of DNA evidence showed he did not commit murder in 1990. In October this year, Kuma Michitoshi, aged 70 was hanged for a double murder committed in 1992. Both men were prosecuted on the strength of the same, now- discredited, DNA test. It is widely believed that retesting would have estabished Kuma’s innocence too, but his appeal had been turned down by the Supreme Court.

The Lakeland Lectures are a forum for researchers, students and members of the public to discuss contemporary issues affecting Japan.