The Sapporo District Court sentenced 21-year-old Hazone Kawamura to 30 years in prison on Thursday for her role in a fatal group assault [1].

The ruling concludes a high-profile case involving the death of a 20-year-old university student [8], highlighting the severity of collective violence and robbery-related deaths in Japan.

The incident occurred in October 2024 [7] at a park in Ebetsu City, Hokkaido [4]. The victim, Tomoya Hase [0], died after being subjected to a group assault by the defendants [5]. According to the court, the attack was linked to robbery and the demand for money [5].

In addition to Kawamura's 30-year sentence [1], the court sentenced 20-year-old Kaiyu Takizawa to 20 years in prison [2]. A third defendant, a boy who was 16 at the time of the crime, received an indeterminate sentence of between nine and 13 years [3].

Public interest in the proceedings was significant. On the day of the verdict, 274 people lined up to observe the trial [4], though the courtroom contained only 46 seats [5].

During the trial, prosecutors noted that the assault and the demands for money were the result of Kawamura's own voluntary actions, a prosecutor said [6]. The severity of the sentence reflects the court's view of the brutality of the crime and the age of the victim.

The emotional toll remained central to the proceedings. "Give him back," a family member of the victim said [7].

The court's decision to impose a 30-year term for Kawamura follows a prosecution request for life imprisonment [6]. While the court did not grant the maximum request, the sentence remains one of the more severe penalties for such a crime involving young adults.

“"Give him back,"”

This sentencing reflects the Japanese judiciary's approach to 'group-led' violence, where the collective nature of the crime often aggravates the sentencing for the primary instigator. By sentencing the lead defendant to 30 years, the court has signaled a low tolerance for violent robbery involving youth, while the use of an indeterminate sentence for the 16-year-old defendant follows the standard legal framework for juveniles in Japan.