Justice In Hiroshima
By billywest • Apr 22nd, 2008 • Category: Society
Hiroshi Motomura, lay your burden down. You’ve carried it for 9 years and now you’ve done everything you can do to see justice done. The grieving won’t ever stop, but your fears that the justice system here in Japan will fail you and the rest of society in this matter, have been allayed. Otsukaresama deshita.
9 years ago in Hiroshima, Hiroshi Motomura realized his worst fears when he learned that his wife and daughter had been murdered. To add insult to injury, he also had to learn that his wife’s corpse had been raped by the 18-year-old that robbed him of his family. It was a story that shocked the nation. The young murderer was tried in the legal system, but because of his status as a minor (Japanese citizens legally become adults at the age of 20), his name was not made public. Even though many felt that the death penalty should have been a no-brainer, most knew that a Japanese legal system that was traditionally soft on juvenile offenders, would likely not hand down such a sentence.
Hiroshi Motomura had pushed for the murderer, who was convicted of the crime, to receive the death penalty, but the initial ruling, which had the killer sentenced to life in prison, dashed his hopes two years ago. However, the Japanese Supreme Court did away with the initial ruling and ordered the case retried. In the second trial, it was decided that the defendant committed a “selfish, self-centered and mean crime that ignored the personality of the victims.” With this, the death sentence was handed down.
During the second trial, the defendant said some things that caused enough disbelief in his previously-stated motives to convince the court that the death penalty was appropriate. One of the things he said (in reference to Yayoi Motomura’s cause of death) was, “I hugged her, wanting to get close to her, and as I held her down while she resisted, she stopped moving.” He also stated that he cuddled the baby daughter to stop her from crying, but accidentally dropped her. He claimed to not remember strangling the baby to death. Probably, though, the most outlandish thing he said during the trial was that he raped Yayoi Motomura in an attempt to revive her. The court rightfully dismissed the idea as preposterous and claimed that someone who was supposedly largely unaware of his actions wouldn’t be cognizant enough to think of such a thing in the face of what had transpired.
Hiroshi Motomura has called the death sentence ruling “fair” and he hopes that the defendant will, “stand up and accept the death penalty without hesitation.”
As someone who has followed this story for several years while living here in Japan, I can only say that I feel a sense of relief here; Not so much because the perpetrator of such a heinous crime will be removed from this world, but because I believe that Mr. Motomura may be able to sleep a little better at night.
What do you think? Is it wrong for societies to put to death those it deems unfit to exist within them, or is it just as wrong as the original crimes the death penalty is designed to be used as punishment for?
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billywest is a resident of South Tokyo and lives on the Toyoko line.
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I hope Motomura-san is able to move on and sleep well knowing that he did what he could for his family. Regardless of what we may think of the death penalty, most of us will be fortunate enough to never have to test our views.
May Motomura-san’s family rest in peace.
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I was pretty upset when reading about this case a few years back, and again yesterday and today as the sentence was finally carried out. I’m glad the killer will be killed himself. I have zero tolerance for killers and even less tolerance for rapists.
That said, if this jerk is 100% guilty of killing a woman, raping her dead body afterwards, and then killing the woman’s child, why grant him the priveledge of a protected name and face? It should be plastered all over the place. No mercy should be afforded for guilty parties of such horrific crimes, regardless their age.
It’s a shame that Japan’s form of execution is nice and “civilized”. This is one human that I would like to have gang-raped by sex-starved prison inmates before being thrown into a sound-proofed cell where he would then slowly die of starvation. If that’s not reason enough for others to think twice before committing a selfish act like this young offender did, I don’t know what is.
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Shane and Jason,
You know, I don’t know why, but this case struck a particular chord with me. Maybe it was the dignified way in which Mr. Motomura carried himself through the whole ordeal. I don’t know how much the death of the murderer in question will add to the deterrent effect of the death penalty, but I feel good knowing that Mr. Motomura has received some measure of satisfaction.
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Well said Billy. There is a part of me that agrees with Jason on how these criminals should suffer (especially when it comes to the murder of innocent children) and a part of me that wonders, like you, if the death penalty is a deterrent or not? If you are disturbed enough to do something like this I’m not sure that the death penalty is even a factor in your decision to perpetrate such a crime.
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I usually oppose the death penalty, but in this case it’s a no-brainer. Guess patience is indeed a virtue in Japan, though not always an easy one to cope with.
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Death penalty just means that some people have a permission to kill under certain circumstances … by the way a life in jail is a far more cruel as punishment.
I’m not religious, and I don’t know if I believe in god, but if I’m not mistaken the fifth (the commandment not the amendment) was : You won’t kill! (it’s the fifth in the Christian bible, the sixth in the jewish one and the 11th in the book of Exodus).
This doesn’t looks like “You won’t kill unless you have a good reason.” to me. But apparently many don’t have the original version at hand. As our whole culture (the occidentalized modern culture of the “developed” countries) is based upon this book, I think we should at least remember that quote.
Now we could argue that this is Japan (about my bible related argument), but what I don’t understand is why people still stand behind death penalty. A group of people having the right to decide to kill someone under certain circumstances is an important treat to democracy as it grant a privilege to institutions and a way of threatening the mass that could be used against the population it was meant to “protect”. (which/communist hunting in the 50’s in the U.S. proved that)
What if we discover that the guy is innocent? (which doesn’t seems to be the case here) I don’t think a “Doh, what a mistake, we are sorry!” will do it once you’ve pushed the button.
Billy, I like your blog, but on this matter I totally disagree with your opinion. The guy should have ended his days in jail doing forced labor and deprived from any human rights and contact with the outside world. Imagine : being a Japanese he could have expected to live an average of 81 yrs old … which meant 63 yrs (81 - 18) of imprisonment, looks painful enough for you?
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Simaldeff,
I think I understand your feelings on the issue of the death penalty. With this post, my intention wasn’t to advocate the death penalty; It was to express my feeling that in this case, the death penalty carried out might help Mr. Motomura get on with his life a little easier. Since the defendant admitted in court his actions and even somewhat made a mockery of it with his ridiculous excuses, I’m fine with the sentence that has been handed down. But, you’re right; Issues of life and death have to be treated with the utmost seriousness and in matters where the defendant vehemently denies his or her guilt, and the evidence against him or her leaves a trace of doubt in the mind of the court, the death penalty probably shouldn’t be carried out.
It’s a heavy subject, and I’m sure there are those who’ve been debating the issue for years out there who’d easily make me look foolish in an arguement about the subject, so I’ll leave the debates for the scholars.
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I don’t think Mr. Motomura did it for his grieving process … I mean people can get over things pretty quickly if they need or want to. IMHO this looks like a revenge. The death penalty is not for revenge, well not anymore.
If the guy was smart enough he would have understood that he could have obtained a far more cruel punishment, like I said life-sentence, but instead he probably shortened the suffering of a sick mind.
I might be a sick mind myself, but, if I had an enemy, I would fill better knowing he’ll wake up every morning knowing he has no hopes of freedom and that his world will be empty and 2 tatami large for the rest of his life, rather than painlessly end his life, and his suffering.
Is it too sadistic a though to be understood?
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I’m not one to generally speak up about these sorta things, but any time I see a person get some much…I can only call it sadistic pleasure seeing another human killed. I understand very well how devistated the man’s life was, and can understand a heated over reaction. However when they arent happy with a life sentence, and require taking another life to satisfy their feelings well..this man hasn’t thought things through. The criminal may be guilty, but now this young man wont be given any sort of chance to change, not even in his own mind like he could in prison. It’s just such a terrifying thought. Imagine the pain and horror coming to this young man’s family, knowing he’s to be killed. They did nothing wrong, nothing to deserve such torment. No..theres no circumstance where this sorta thing can be acceptable. In fact, it’s making me quite ill to think about.
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Don’t expect too much pity for the family of a convicted murderer. Your point is well-taken, but it would be hard for a lot of people to consider their feelings on a level anywhere near the level of Mr. Motomura’s feelings.
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that jerk should be sentence right away.and if its ok to be live on t.v i would be very much happy……
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Nice website!!
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