Japan executes man for 2009 Osaka arson that killed five

Japan carried out its first execution under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday, executing Sumiyoshi Takami, 58, for a deadly 2009 arson attack in Osaka. This execution is the first in Japan in 14 months, breaking a period of relative inactivity in capital punishment.

Takami was found guilty of pouring gasoline and igniting a fire at a pachinko parlor in Osaka's Konohana Ward on July 5, 2009. The blaze killed four customers and one employee, while another 10 people sustained injuries. Takami surrendered to authorities the following day and was subsequently arrested.

During his trial, Takami's defense lawyers argued for diminished responsibility due to alleged delusions and challenged the death penalty as cruel punishment. However, courts consistently ruled that he possessed full responsibility for his actions. The Osaka District Court's initial verdict in 2011, upheld by the Osaka High Court in 2013 and the Supreme Court in 2016, stated that Takami's decision to commit the crime was motivated by dissatisfaction with his current situation, despite his pursuit of employment and future plans.

The case was notable for being the first to utilize a jury system, reflecting public opinion on capital punishment. This execution follows a previous one in June 2025, when Takahiro Shiraishi, responsible for the deaths of nine people in Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, was executed. That execution occurred after the longest interval since 1998, when records of executions began to be published.

The death penalty remains a subject of debate in Japan. A discussion group on Japan's death penalty system proposed in 2024 that the government and parliament establish a dedicated committee for a fundamental review. In the same year, death row inmate Iwao Hakamada was acquitted in a retrial, sparking celebrations of "innocent victory."

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The defendant decided to commit the crime motivated by dissatisfaction with the current situation, while continuing to seek employment opportunities that met expectations and plan for the future, so the influence of delusions was not significant.