Death Penalty in Modern Japan (1868–1945): Evolving Execution Practices and Their Societal Impact

This article investigates the evolution of capital executions in modern Japan, focusing primarily on two major aspects: the reform of execution methods to reduce physical suffering, and the implementation of measures to preserve the confidentiality of executions. These aspects created a notable distance between public awareness and the realities of death penalty, particularly regarding actual executions. Consequently, calls for abolition gradually shifted from concerns about the suffering of death-row inmates to societal issues and abstract theoretical considerations. Although reform efforts were generally viewed as progressive, they did not lead to a significant reduction in the state’s reliance on the death penalty. On the contrary, the public’s detachment from the death penalty contributed to the persistence of the practice.