Innocence Movements in Asia

Japan

Overview

Photograph of IPJ professors, lawyers, and student volunteers. (Via Konan University)

Photograph of IPJ professors, lawyers, and student volunteers. (Via Konan University)

The innocence movement is growing in Japan. One of the leading organizations is Innocence Project Japan (IPJ). Founded in 2016, IPJ brings together law professors, scientists, defense lawyers, and other professionals. Law professor Kana Sasakura of Konan University and engineering professor Mitsuyuki Inaba of Ritsumeikan University in Osaka are the co-leaders of this organization. As Mark Godsey notes on the wrongful convictions blog, “Japan has already seen a number of high-profile exonerations. But they have more work to do.” Learn more about the structure of Innocence Project Japan.

USALI has had the pleasure of working with IPJ on several occasions, as well as having members attend our Wrongful Convictions Program, including Professors Kana Sasakura and Hikaru Tokunaga, as well as attorney Takuya Kawasaki.

Recent Innocence Activities in Japan

Below we highlight the recent innocence work of former Visiting Scholars, Wrongful Convictions Program participants, Affiliated Scholars and more.

Innocence Project Japan volunteers and filmmakers hold a sign for the film “Gokutomo” - a documentary about five exonerees from Japan. This film will be screened at the first ever wrongful convictions film festival in Taiwan (December 2019).

Innocence Project Japan volunteers and filmmakers hold a sign for the film “Gokutomo” - a documentary about five exonerees from Japan. This film will be screened at the first ever wrongful convictions film festival in Taiwan (December 2019).