Father Who Maintained Innocence Dies in Prison

Apr 18, 2026 | News On Japan

SHIGA, Apr 18, 2026 (News On Japan) - The family of a man granted a retrial over a robbery-murder case in Shiga Prefecture has called for revisions to Japan's retrial system, saying he was wrongfully arrested despite having an alibi.

'My father was arrested even though he had an alibi,' said Koji Sakakibara. 'He should not have died, and he should never have been arrested.'

His father, Hiroshi Sakakibara, was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with a robbery-murder case in Hino, Shiga Prefecture. He continued to maintain his innocence but died of illness while serving his sentence.

During a retrial petition filed by the family, developments emerged suggesting police evidence may have been fabricated. A retrial was approved in February this year.

However, it took about eight years from the time the Otsu District Court first approved a retrial, due to prosecutors filing objections twice.

'Prosecutors should refrain from appealing and open the retrial as soon as possible, then argue the guilty verdict there,' Koji Sakakibara said.

As debate continues over reform of the retrial law, the Justice Ministry wants to retain prosecutors' right to object to retrial decisions. But some lawmakers within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party have strongly opposed the move, leaving discussions in disarray.

Source: KTV NEWS

Typhoon Jangmi Leaves Trail of Destruction Across Japan

Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) swept across Japan on June 3rd, bringing record-breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, landslides, transport disruptions, and powerful winds, while prompting Tokyo's first-ever issuance of a Level 4 danger alert under the country's new weather warning system. The storm also exposed challenges surrounding evacuation behavior, as many residents chose not to leave their homes despite official warnings affecting more than 1.6 million people across the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Typhoon Jangmi Disrupts Transport Across Eastern Japan as Rail and Flight Services Begin Recovery

[updated 10:50 p.m.] Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) continued to disrupt transport across eastern Japan late on June 3rd, although many major rail and air services began shifting into recovery mode after the storm moved away into the Pacific, with nearly 900 flights canceled during the day, several regional railway lines still suspended, and operators warning that delays and reduced services could linger into June 4th.

Local Residents Struggle to Respond as New Disaster Warning

As Typhoon Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) struck Wakayama Prefecture on June 3rd, the storm became the first major test of Japan's newly introduced disaster weather warning system, revealing both the benefits of earlier evacuation calls and the challenges local authorities faced in helping residents understand and respond to the new alerts.

Typhoon No. 6 Swamps Popular Ise Tourist Town

Flooding was reported around the popular tourist district of Oharai-machi in Ise City following the passage of Typhoon No. 6, with some businesses forced to clean up after floodwaters overflowed from a nearby river during the early hours of June 3rd.

Residents Urged to Seek Safety as Extreme Rain Batters Izu

A breaking weather alert was issued for the Izu region of Shizuoka Prefecture early Wednesday morning, after the formation of a linear rain band, a phenomenon capable of producing prolonged and extremely intense rainfall over the same area. Authorities warned that the risk of disasters has risen sharply as heavy rain continues to fall, increasing the likelihood of flooding, landslides, and other weather-related emergencies.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Floating Body May Be Linked to Mother-Daughter Murder Case

A possible new development emerged in the murder of a mother and daughter in Tatsuno, Hyogo Prefecture, when a woman passing by a river in the city discovered a man floating face-up in the water at around 10:30 a.m. on June 3rd and alerted authorities.

Japan's Birth Rate Falls to Record Low 1.14

Japan's total fertility rate, which represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her lifetime, fell to a record low of 1.14 in 2025, underscoring the country's deepening demographic challenges.

Three More Yakuza Arrested in $2.8 Million Heist

A senior member of a Sumiyoshi-kai affiliated organization and two other suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of approximately 420 million yen in cash from a street in Tokyo's Ueno district in January 2026, bringing the total number of arrests in the case to 10.