He’s the world’s longest-serving death row inmate. A court just exonerated him.

After 58 years of wrongful imprisonment, Japan has exonerated Iwao Hakamata, the world's longest-serving death row inmate.

The 88-year-old former boxer was acquitted on Thursday by the Shizuoka District Court. The court ruled that key evidence used to convict him a pair of bloodstained trousers had been planted by investigators. The decision ends a decades-long legal battle and places Japan’s criminal justice system under renewed scrutiny.

Judge Kunii Tsuneishi stated the reddish color of the blood contradicted claims that the clothing had soaked in miso for over a year. “The bloodstains were processed and hidden in the tank by the investigating authorities after a considerable period of time since the incident,” he said.

Hakamata’s story began in 1966, when his employer and his family were found murdered in Shizuoka. Working at a soybean processing plant, Hakamata became the prime suspect. After intense interrogation sessions, he confessed only to later recant, claiming police had beaten and threatened him.

Despite his protestations and the lack of reliable evidence, a panel of judges sentenced him to death in 1968. One dissenting judge resigned six months later, disheartened by his inability to prevent the sentence.

New forensic evidence emerged in 2014. A DNA test showed the blood on the clothing did not match Hakamata or the victims. That breakthrough led to a retrial, which was finally granted in 2023 after years of legal obstacles. On March 14, 2024, justice was served.

Hakamata’s release in 2014, pending retrial, highlighted his declining mental health. According to his sister, Hideko, now 91, he lives in a state of confusion and rarely acknowledges the outside world. “Sometimes he smiles happily, but that’s when he’s in his delusion,” she said. “We have not even discussed the trial with Iwao because of his inability to recognize reality.”

Hideko, who campaigned for her brother’s freedom for over 50 years, said the not-guilty verdict sounded "divine" to her. “I couldn’t stop crying,” she added.

For many, Hakamata’s case underscores serious flaws in Japan’s legal system. The country’s reliance on confessions remains controversial. Former prosecutor Hiroshi Ichikawa told CNN that confessions often come before evidence in Japan. “Getting a confession is considered more important than proving guilt,” he said.

Japan’s conviction rate hovers near 99%, according to the Ministry of Justice. Critics argue this comes at the cost of fair trials, especially when confessions are extracted under duress. Hakamata’s lawyer, Hideyo Ogawa, revealed that his client was interrogated without legal counsel for over 12 hours daily, for 23 consecutive days.

“The Japanese judicial system, especially at that time, allowed investigators to exploit secrecy for illegal practices,” Ogawa said.

Amnesty International echoed these concerns. “Hakamata’s case is emblematic of the many issues with the criminal justice system in Japan,” said Chiara Sangiorgio, the group’s Death Penalty Advisor.

Japan remains one of the few developed countries to retain capital punishment. It did not conduct any executions in 2023, but the policy remains active. Critics like Hideko Hakamata argue for its abolition. “Convicts are also human beings,” she said.

Life after prison has not been easy for Iwao Hakamata. His mental condition is fragile. But he has found comfort in small joys. In February, he adopted two cats. “He began to worry about them and care for them,” Hideko shared. “It was a big change.”

As the judge concluded the verdict, he apologized to Hideko. “The court is very sorry that it has taken so long,” he said. She wiped away tears with a handkerchief—tears of sorrow, relief, and justice delayed far too long.

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