Matsuo Fujimoto
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese executed man, who was charged for a 1952 murder and was executed by hanging
in 1962. His guilty verdict, death sentence and execution, made controversies, because he suffered from leprosy
and the Japanese government were urging the discrimination and prejudice against the leper patients at that time.
On August 1, 1951, someone set a charge of dynamite in a house of a functionary, who supported the segregation of leper patients. The police arrested Matsuo Fujimoto and he was forced to enter a detention center of a leper colony
, Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium
, in Kumamoto Prefecture
. He escaped from the hospital on June 16, 1952. On July 6, the functionary was murdered. The police announced that Matsuo had killed him. On July 12, the police shot and captured Matsuo. However, the victim's blood wasn't stuck to his dagger. When he was badly wounded by shooting, the police extracted a confession from him.
There was a lack of evidence, but his trial was abnormal. They established the special court for him. His first lawyers agreed the prosecutors. Since they hated leprosy, he was tried in an isolated circumstance. Kumamoto district court sentenced him to death
on August 29, 1953. His trials didn't seem to be fair, so he had supporters, including Yasuhiro Nakasone
. However, he was executed by hanging on September 14, 1962 after Kunio Nakagaki
signed his death warrant.
Later, when Japanese policy against leper was criticised as unethical, the case came under review. In March 2005, "Verification Committee Concerning Hansen's Disease Problem", which was established by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
, claimed "Fujimoto's case did not even come close to satisfying the constitutional requirements."
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
in 1962. His guilty verdict, death sentence and execution, made controversies, because he suffered from leprosy
Leprosy
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
and the Japanese government were urging the discrimination and prejudice against the leper patients at that time.
On August 1, 1951, someone set a charge of dynamite in a house of a functionary, who supported the segregation of leper patients. The police arrested Matsuo Fujimoto and he was forced to enter a detention center of a leper colony
Leper colony
A leper colony, leprosarium, or lazar house is a place to quarantine leprous people.-History:Leper colonies or houses became widespread in the Middle Ages, particularly in Europe and India, and often run by monastic orders...
, Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium
Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium
Kikuchi Keifuen Sanatorium or National Sanatorium Kikuchi Keifuen is a sanatorium for leprosy patients or ex-leprosy patients at Kohshi-shi, Kikuchi-gun, Kumamoto-ken, Japan founded in 1909...
, in Kumamoto Prefecture
Kumamoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyushu Island. The capital is the city of Kumamoto.- History :Historically the area was called Higo Province; and the province was renamed Kumamoto during the Meiji Restoration. The creation of prefectures was part of the abolition of the feudal system...
. He escaped from the hospital on June 16, 1952. On July 6, the functionary was murdered. The police announced that Matsuo had killed him. On July 12, the police shot and captured Matsuo. However, the victim's blood wasn't stuck to his dagger. When he was badly wounded by shooting, the police extracted a confession from him.
There was a lack of evidence, but his trial was abnormal. They established the special court for him. His first lawyers agreed the prosecutors. Since they hated leprosy, he was tried in an isolated circumstance. Kumamoto district court sentenced him to death
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
on August 29, 1953. His trials didn't seem to be fair, so he had supporters, including Yasuhiro Nakasone
Yasuhiro Nakasone
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from November 27, 1982 to November 6, 1987. A contemporary of Brian Mulroney, Ronald Reagan, Helmut Kohl, François Mitterrand, Margaret Thatcher, and Mikhail Gorbachev, he is best known for pushing through the privatization of...
. However, he was executed by hanging on September 14, 1962 after Kunio Nakagaki
Kunio Nakagaki
was a Japanese Minister of Justice. He was a pro-death penalty activist and approved the executions of 33 people, including Matsuo Fujimoto and Ri Chin'u . On September 11, 1962, he commanded Fujimoto's execution and he was executed three days after. He also attempted to execute Sadamichi Hirasawa,...
signed his death warrant.
Later, when Japanese policy against leper was criticised as unethical, the case came under review. In March 2005, "Verification Committee Concerning Hansen's Disease Problem", which was established by Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)
The ' is a cabinet level ministry of the Japanese government. It is commonly known as Kōrō-shō in Japan. This ministry provides regulations on maximum residue limits for agricultural chemicals in foods, basic food and drug regulations, standards for foods, food additives, etc.It was formed with...
, claimed "Fujimoto's case did not even come close to satisfying the constitutional requirements."
See also
- Sadamichi HirasawaSadamichi Hirasawawas a Japanese tempera painter. He was convicted of mass poisoning and sentenced to death, though he is suspected to have been falsely charged and no justice minister signed his death warrant.-Teigin case:...
- Sakae MendaSakae Mendais a Japanese man who was convicted of a double homicide, but was exonerated by retrial in 1983. This was the first time anyone was ever released from death row by retrial in Japan...
- Sacco and VanzettiSacco and VanzettiFerdinando Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were anarchists who were convicted of murdering two men during a 1920 armed robbery in South Braintree, Massachusetts, United States...
- West Memphis 3West Memphis 3The West Memphis Three are three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was sentenced to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin was...
- Leprosy stigmaLeprosy stigmaLeprosy stigma is a kind of social stigma, a strong feeling that a leprosy patient is shameful and is not accepted normally in society. Also called leprosy related stigma, leprostigma and stigma of leprosy.-Stigma:...