Hideko Hakamada called for a total ban on prosecutor appeals and full evidence disclosure following the House of Representatives' approval of retrial law amendments [3].

The push for these changes highlights a systemic struggle in Japan's legal system to provide timely relief for those claiming wrongful convictions. Because prosecutors can often block retrials through appeals, victims of judicial error may spend decades in prison before their cases are revisited.

Hakamada, 93 [1], said during an online press conference on May 27, 2024 [3]. Her brother, Iwao Hakamada, was convicted in a 1966 case involving the deaths of four family members in Shizuoka Prefecture [2].

She said that the current proposal, which the government cabinet decided upon on May 15, 2024 [4], contains loopholes that prevent the law from truly saving victims of wrongful convictions. Hakamada said the law should be designed to save victims without leaving any gaps.

"The revision of the retrial law is a law to save victims of wrongful convictions," Hakamada said. "I want a law to be made to save victims of wrongful convictions without creating loopholes."

To achieve this, she said that the state must implement a total ban on prosecutor appeals and ensure that all evidence in retrial request cases is fully disclosed [1]. She urged the National Diet to determine if the current legal changes will actually lead to the relief of victims.

"The thoughts of the victims of wrongful convictions should reach the National Diet," Hakamada said.

“"The revision of the retrial law is a law to save victims of wrongful convictions."”

The Hakamada case serves as a catalyst for debating the 'prosecutor's veto' in Japan. While the government is moving toward reform, the demand for full evidence disclosure and the removal of prosecutor appeals represents a push for a fundamental shift in power from the state to the defense in retrial proceedings.