DistantNews
Support us
🇦🇺 Australia /Conflict & Security

Teenage Girl's Death After Detention Sparks Outcry Over Japan's 'Hostage Justice' System

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A 16-year-old girl in Japan died five months after an 18-day detention period, during which her family alleges she was subjected to "hostage justice."
  • The family claims the prolonged detention led to severe trauma, an eating disorder, and significant weight loss, contributing to her death.
  • A Japanese MP, Mori Masako, has spoken out against the system, calling for reforms to address the country's high conviction rate and potential wrongful detentions.

The death of 16-year-old Runa* has ignited a fierce debate in Japan over the controversial "hostage justice" system, a practice where suspects are held in prolonged detention to extract confessions. Runa's mother, Nami*, recounts the harrowing experience of her daughter's 18-day detention, which she believes led to her death just five months later.

I told the police that I'd be there within 30 minutes and asked them to wait for me.

— Nami*Runa's mother describes her attempt to reach the police station before her daughter was taken into detention.

Nami described being informed by police of Runa's detention early one morning last June. Despite rushing to the scene, she was unable to prevent her daughter from being taken away. Upon her release, Runa was emaciated and unrecognizable. Her family alleges that the trauma of her detention caused her to develop an eating disorder and lose nearly 10 kilograms, bringing her weight down to just 20 kilograms before she died.

Runa was arrested and accused of assaulting a client at a disability care center where she worked with her mother. She maintained that she had only gently touched the client's chin to prevent them from biting and pinching others. Nami provided police with evidence, including photos and witness statements, and pleaded for her daughter's release or at least visitation rights, but Runa was denied contact with her family for the entire 18 days.

The police officer said they understood, but by the time I rushed to the scene, my daughter was already gone. They'd taken her away.

— Nami*Runa's mother recounts the moment she realized her daughter had been taken into custody.

MP Mori Masako, a lawyer and former justice minister, has publicly condemned the case as "unthinkable." She is calling for a fundamental reform of the justice system, questioning the validity of Japan's widely cited 99 percent conviction rate. "Just think how many innocent people are included in that figure," Mori stated, adding, "I think [hostage justice] is a problem. I really do."

They detained her, extended her detention, extended it again … only for it to turn out she was innocent.

— Mori MasakoMP Mori Masako criticizes the prolonged detention of Runa, who was later found to be innocent.

Critics argue that the system, which prevents defense lawyers from observing police interviews and relies on suspects writing notes for their legal counsel, pressures individuals into confessing, regardless of guilt. Runa's own notebook from detention reportedly contains repeated entries expressing her desire to see her mother, underscoring the psychological distress she endured.

I think [hostage justice] is a problem. I really do.

— Mori MasakoMP Mori Masako expresses her strong opposition to Japan's "hostage justice" system.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog