Former Death-Row Inmate Iwao Hakamata Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Prosecutor General

Iwao Hakamata, who spent decades on death row before being acquitted, has taken legal action against the government in a case filed with the Shizuoka District Court on September 11. At 89 years old, Hakamata is seeking 5.5 million yen (approximately $37,300) in damages as well as a formal apology to be posted on the official website of the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office. His wrongful conviction stems from the brutal murders of four family members in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1966.

The Shizuoka District Court cleared Hakamata in a retrial last September, agreeing with his defense team that evidence had likely been fabricated during the original investigation. Although the prosecutor general, Naomi Unemoto, announced in October 2024 that the prosecution would not challenge the acquittal, she publicly criticized the court’s decision as “utterly unacceptable” and suggested that a higher court should review it.

In the defamation lawsuit, Hakamata’s legal representatives argue that Unemoto's comments skewed public perception of him, insinuating that he was still linked to the murders of which he was exonerated. “Her statement is not only defamatory but also disregards the authority of the court,” argued Hideyo Ogawa, Hakamata’s lawyer, during a press conference. Hakamata’s sister, Hideko, who has been a key advocate for his exoneration, expressed her belief that Unemoto felt compelled to speak out professionally.

As of now, the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office has not commented on the lawsuit, indicating they have not yet received the formal complaint. Furthermore, Hakamata’s legal team is gearing up to lodge an additional damages claim under the State Compensation Law on October 9, which aims to hold police and prosecutors responsible for the injustices surrounding his conviction.