Japanese Death Row Inmate Dies of Old Age

May 04, 2025 | News On Japan

NAGOYA - Kazuhiko Matsumoto, a 70-year-old man on death row for killing two men in the Philippines for insurance money, has died of natural causes.

Matsumoto was convicted of murdering two men in Manila between 1994 and 1995 to collect life insurance payouts. His death sentence was finalized after trial proceedings confirmed his involvement in the crimes.

While receiving treatment for pneumonia, Matsumoto died of old age on May 1st.

Between 1994 and 1995, Matsumoto, along with his twin brother Akihiro and other accomplices, conspired to murder two male acquaintances in Manila. One of the victims was from Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and had taken out a substantial insurance policy on his home prior to the incident. The motive behind these crimes was to fraudulently claim life insurance benefits.

Following his arrest and trial, Matsumoto's death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2007, solidifying his position on death row. His twin brother, Akihiro, who was also sentenced to death for his role in the murders, died of illness in 2016 while awaiting execution.

Matsumoto had been detained at the Nagoya Detention House and was hospitalized since November 2024 for pneumonia and other health issues. He passed away on May 1, 2025, due to hyponatremia, a condition characterized by low sodium levels in the blood. With his death, the number of inmates on death row in Japan decreased to 106.

Source: FNN

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