Japan‘s Continued Use of the Death Penalty Faces Renewed Scrutiny
Mario Marazziti, a co-founding member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, speaks in Tokyo on December 4, 2024. (Provided by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty)
Italian human rights activist Mario Marazziti argues that Japan would benefit from abolishing the death penalty. He contends that capital punishment does not enhance public safety and is ethically problematic.
Marazziti, a co-founding member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and a spokesman for Rome-based Catholic organization, Community of Sant’Egidio, recently urged Japan to reconsider its stance on capital punishment in light of the trend among other industrialized nations.
The Debate Resurfaces
For decades, Japan has clung to capital punishment as a legitimate form of punishment, facing increasing international pressure to abolish the practice. While public opinion in Japan tends to support capital punishment, recent events, including the extended moratorium on executions and high-profile cases of individuals wrongly convicted, have contributed to a growing conversation about its moral and practical implications.
Marazziti constantly emphasizes what he considers a crucial point: the death penalty, whether imposed or not, “does not remove threats to the public since the dangerous offender is already safely contained in prison.”
Reevaluating its Viability
Critics of capital punishment frequently argue that human life is sacred and irreversible. They believe, as Marazziti reminds us, that the presumption of innocence is paramount, and the possibility of executing someone wrongly convicted is too great.
Marazziti’s stance reflects international trends.
“The world, Japan, nobody’s life changes because someone is in jail,” he asserts. “So the population is safe in both cases.”
Japan and the United States remain the only Group of Seven industrialized nations that still utilize capital punishment. The European Union, with its firm stance against the death penalty, has repeatedly urged Japan to reconsider its policy. The European Union’s stance aligns with international human rights groups, highlighting concerns over the ethical and legal implications of capital punishment.
Furthermore, Marazziti underscores that the death penalty can negatively impact Japan’s standing on the global stage.
It hinders international cooperation, he argues, by discouraging other nations opposed to executions from fully cooperating on transnational crime investigations.
Public Opinion and the Path Forward
Despite a 2019 government survey revealing that 80.8% of Japanese citizens believed that “capital punishment could not be helped,” the country has not actively carried out any executions for over two years. This might be linked in part to the notable case of Iwao Hakamata, now free at 88 after he spent years on death row, only to be later acquitted.
Marazziti posits that Hakamata’s acquittal definitively showcases the inherent imperfection of the legal system.
“We are humans, we tend to perfection but perfection is natural only to God,” Marazziti explains. “Since we are imperfect, we should not create anything that is irreversible.”
He emphasizes the importance of engaging the public in a thoughtful discussion about the death penalty.
“Japanese people truly trust their institutions, the government, and authority,” he says. He believes that if Japan’s legislative body, the Diet, decided to abolish the death penalty, even if public understanding wasn’t immediate, they would eventually accept it as a rational policy driven by trust in leadership.
He concludes that each country will travel a unique path toward abandoning the death penalty. Suggesting a phased approach, he proposes a moratorium to allow Japan to delve deeper into research and analyze its penal system in greater depth.
Looking ahead, Marazziti expresses hope that the recent, though unintentional, suspension of executions might help Japan steer towards a new era:
“I’m hopeful that this can contribute to discover a new culture of life where people feel more confident that the state protects everyone while still respecting life always.”
– What are the main arguments presented by Mario Marazziti against the use of the death penalty in Japan?
## Japan’s Continued Use of the Death Penalty Faces Renewed Scrutiny: An Interview with Mario Marazziti
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re discussing a topic that has sparked renewed debate in Japan: the continued use of the death penalty. Joining us is Mario Marazziti, a co-founding member of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and a key voice in the international movement to abolish capital punishment.
Mr. Marazziti, thank you for being here.
**Marazziti:** My pleasure.
**Host:** You’ve recently been in Japan advocating for the abolition of the death penalty. Can you tell us why you believe Japan would be better off without it?
**Marazziti:** Firstly, I want to be clear: the death penalty does not make society safer. Whether or not someone is executed, a dangerous individual is already safely contained within prison, removing any threat to the public [[1](https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/12/9470cf95f7b1-japan-would-be-better-off-without-death-penalty-italian-activist.html)].
**Host:** So, you’re arguing that it serves no practical purpose?
**Marazziti:** Exactly. It’s a complex issue, of course, but at its core, it’s about morality and justice. Human life is sacred and irreversible. The possibility of executing someone wrongly convicted is a grave injustice we cannot condone. We must remember the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence. [[1](https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/12/9470cf95f7b1-japan-would-be-better-off-without-death-penalty-italian-activist.html)]
**Host:** You mentioned the international perspective. Many countries have abandoned capital punishment. Why is Japan lagging behind?
**Marazziti:** Japan remains one of only two G7 nations still using the death penalty, the other being the United States. There is immense international pressure to abolish it, particularly from the European Union, which has a strong stance against the practice. It’s creating a divide and hindering international cooperation. [[1](https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/12/9470cf95f7b1-japan-would-be-better-off-without-death-penalty-italian-activist.html)]
**Host:** What would you say to those who believe the death penalty is a just punishment for certain crimes?
**Marazziti:** I understand the strong emotions involved, but I truly believe that as a society we should aspire to higher ideals.
Capital punishment diminishes us all. It lowers us to the level of those we condemn. There are alternative sentences that serve justice without resorting to state-sanctioned killing.
**Host:** Mr. Marazziti, thank you for sharing your insights with us today. This is a complex issue with strong arguments on both sides. It’s important to have these difficult conversations and continue to examine our values and practices as a society.
**Marazziti:** Thank you for having me. I hope this discussion will contribute to a more informed and compassionate debate on this crucial issue.
