Japanese Police Chief Apologizes to Exonerated Man

Iwao Hakamada, an 88-year-old former boxer wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 50 years, received a personal apology from Shizuoka Prefectural Police chief Takayoshi Tsuda, who acknowledged the 'unspeakable mental distress' Hakamada endured due to fabricated evidence and coerced confessions. Hakamada was acquitted last month after a retrial revealed serious misconduct by police and prosecutors, making him the longest-serving death row inmate in the world before his exoneration. While Tsuda's apology was seen as respectful, many criticized it as insufficient given the decades of suffering Hakamada faced. Hakamada's sister accepted the apology, emphasizing the need for her brother to find closure rather than seeking to blame the police chief, who was not involved in the original case. The incident has reignited discussions on Japan's justice system, particularly regarding the use of the death penalty. Hakamada's case underscores the ongoing calls for legal reforms and greater transparency in judicial processes in Japan.