Japanese Officials Apologize at Grave of Wrongfully Detained Man

Japanese police and prosecutors issued a rare public apology at the grave of Shizuo Aishima, a businessman wrongfully accused of illegal export activities and who died of stomach cancer without receiving proper medical treatment while in detention. Despite eight bail requests from his lawyers to allow Aishima to get treatment, all were denied, and he passed away in February 2021, five months before charges against him and other company executives were dropped amid doubts about their guilt. The case involved the export of spray dryer machines, which authorities suspected could be used for military purposes, though the company maintained the exports were legal. Following the dropped charges, a lawsuit filed by Aishima's company won substantial damages, with the court ruling the prosecution unlawful and ordering compensation. Officials, including high-ranking police and prosecutors, expressed deep remorse for the wrongful detention, denial of bail, and severe human rights violations, marking an unusual admission of fault in Japan's legal system. The apology ceremony at a Yokohama cemetery was attended by Aishima's family, who accepted the apology but struggled to forgive those responsible for the false accusations.