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Asahi Shimbun
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Miscarriages of justice leave a stain that can never be erased
Shoji Maekawa appears in Kanazawa on July 18, holding a hat belonging to Iwao Hakamata and wearing a tie given to him by Keiko Aoki, who were both acquitted of murder in retrials. (Shinnosuke Ito) Why do wrongful convictions occur? Why don't they ever go away? A petition written in the early Meiji Era (1868-1912) is preserved at the National Archives. Its author, Yoshinobu Hattori, was a former retainer of the feudal Matsuyama-han clan in Iyo Province, present-day Ehime Prefecture. In the document, Hattori analyzed the causes of wrongful convictions and appealed to the government to prevent them. He asserted that the miscarriages of justice were 'due to evil bureaucratic practices,' and harshly denounced the systemic nature of corruption among government officials. And pointing out how some bureaucrats who, out of self-preservation or greed for promotion, deliberately 'framed' innocent individuals in the absence of sufficient evidence for conviction, Hattori concluded, 'This is the root cause of rampant wrongful convictions.' Shoji Maekawa, 60, who was convicted of murdering a junior high school girl in the city of Fukui 39 years ago, was acquitted in a retrial on July 18. 'Finally, my innocence has been proven,' he said to his supporters. 'To be frank, my heart feels sort of empty.' His guilt was based on the testimony of an acquaintance. But the TV program, which this 'witness' said was being shown on the night of the murder, did not air that particular evening. This discrepancy was more than serious enough to blow the prosecution's case out of the water. And yet, the prosecutors chose to keep it under wraps. What if I had happened to be in Maekawa's shoes? The very thought horrifies me. How could such a grossly incompetent investigation ever be allowed, not to mention the guilty verdict it led to? How long must we keep seeing the same injustice being repeated ad nauseum? And how many more victims must gnash their teeth in despair? Hattori, the author of the above-mentioned plea, had experienced being convicted falsely of murder and imprisonment, and then being exonerated when evidence of his innocence miraculously came to light. Written with a brush and ink, his heartfelt plea--that the agony of being falsely accused be eliminated forever from the world--transcends time and speaks to us as we look to the future. --The Asahi Shimbun, July 19 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
09-06-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Lake Biwa Canal enlivened Kyoto while mixing in Western motifs
The Lake Biwa Canal includes the Suirokaku aqueduct on the grounds of Nanzenji temple in Kyoto, pictured on May 12. (Yoshiaki Arai) The gentle murmur of flowing water accompanied me throughout the journey. From the lakeside city of Otsu to Kyoto, I walked a roughly 12-kilometer stretch of the Biwako Sosui—a historic manmade waterway that links Lake Biwako in Shiga Prefecture to the ancient capital and an engineering marvel soon to be designated a national treasure. Construction of the Biwako Sosui, also known as the Lake Biwa Canal, began in 1885, the 18th year of the Meiji Era (1868–1912). The ambitious project aimed to channel water from Japan's largest lake to Kyoto, providing both a steady water supply and a means of waterborne transport for goods and passengers. It was envisioned as a lifeline to rejuvenate a city that had fallen into decline following the relocation of the imperial capital to Tokyo at the start of the era. The current, mirroring green leaves on its surface, flowed more swiftly than expected. Strands of algae drifted and bobbed as the water coursed through the carved channel, disappearing into tunnel after tunnel. That such a vast feat of civil engineering was accomplished without the aid of modern machinery is nothing short of astonishing. Beyond Yamashina, a district in southeastern Kyoto, I reached Nanzenji, a venerable Zen Buddhist temple. There, within the temple grounds, a majestic brick aqueduct—its Roman-style arches soaring boldly overhead—stood as one of the canal project's most striking sights. One can't help but wonder—did Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835–1901), the renowned Meiji Era educator and writer, once gaze upon this very scene? During a visit to Kyoto, he penned an editorial in his newspaper questioning the very canal whose completion we now admire. Fukuzawa argued that instead of becoming enamored with Western civilization and pouring vast sums into such a project, Kyoto should focus on preserving its ancient temples and shrines and natural beauty. If that heritage were lost, he warned, 'Who would come to behold Kyoto?' Even a visionary like Fukuzawa could not have predicted the enduring popularity of the canal today. The weathered red-brick structure, blending Japanese and Western styles, now creates a striking and atmospheric space, alive with the presence of tourists. 'A singular 'fuchi'—the elegance, charm, and distinct character of a landscape—in Kyoto in which nature and artifice, tradition and modernity intertwine'—such was the Council for Cultural Affairs' rationale in recommending the canal for designation as a national treasure. Scattered along the canal are 'hengaku' (calligraphic plaques traditionally displayed in prominent locations on buildings and structures) and discovering them is one of the walk's quiet pleasures. One bore the inscription 'Yukan Kiso'('grand scenery, extraordinary idea'), written by the then-governor of Kyoto who first proposed the project. And indeed, it was a kiso—a bold, unconventional vision that defied prevailing norms and has since become a cherished legacy of the region. —The Asahi Shimbun, June 8 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: Onosato's rapid rise to yokozuna signals new era for sumo world
Ozeki Onosato, foreground, defeats maegashira No. 4 Takayasu on March 23 to capture his third Emperor's Cup at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in Osaka. (Takuya Tanabe) A father ordered his son, who was leaving home to become a sumo wrestler: 'Do not come home until you've made it to 'sekitori.'' (Sekitori means sumo wrestlers in the highest 'makuuchi' division and the second-highest 'juryo' division.) This was paternal 'tough love' par excellence. Aware of the hardships his boy was about to face, the father knew that the best thing he could do for his son was to just let him deal with the tough challenges like a grown man. The son debuted in the May tournament in 2023 and became a sekitori after only two tournaments. By the Bon summer holidays that year, he was able to visit his family at his home in Ishikawa Prefecture. The situation makes me almost picture his father trying unsuccessfully to suppress his glee by telling his son with mock dismay, 'Aren't you home a bit early?' This episode was introduced in the Hokkoku Shimbun, a local daily newspaper. The son's name is Daiki Nakamura, whose 'shikona' (ring name) is Onosato. Because of his phenomenally rapid rise, his hair did not grow fast enough to be styled into a proper topknot and he sported a messy 'do' until recently. And, less than six months after he was finally able to wear the formal 'oicho' topknot, he was promoted to the highest rank of yokozuna. From his ring debut, it took him only 13 tournaments to reach that pinnacle—said to be the fastest since yokozuna became an officially recognized title during the Meiji Era (1868-1912). Anyone holding that exalted rank is expected to have achieved perfection in what is called 'shin-gi-tai' (spirit, technique and physical strength). Scriptwriter Makiko Uchidate once complained of 'young men' who raced up the ranks and behaved with no manners whatsoever on the dohyo. But Onosato, the 24-year-old new yokozuna, has been working on self-improvement forever. There is already something about him that suggests greatness. For instance, after toweling himself before a bout, he would fold the towel politely before returning it to the 'yobidashi' (ring attendant) as a matter of courtesy to the latter. He is more than just a great wrestler, enthuses author Nobuya Kobayashi in his recently published book 'Onosato wo Sodateta Kaniya Ryokan Monogatari' ("The story of Kaniya Ryokan that raised Onosato"). Yokozuna Wajima (1948-2018), another Ishikawa Prefecture native, established the 'Rinko Jidai (Era)' together with yokozuna Kitanoumi (1953-2015). Onosato's promotion to yokozuna ends the 'single yokozuna' situation that lasted three and a half years. A new era of sumo has dawned. —The Asahi Shimbun, May 29 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Asahi Shimbun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
VOX POPULI: After 16 years, citizen judge system needs to keep evolving
A courtroom at the newly renovated Tsu District Court in Mie Prefecture on March 6 (Asahi Shimbun file photo) A scene from 'Kasai no Hito' (Family Court Judge), a manga published 32 years ago, depicts a 'court of the future.' At the counter of an "izakaya"-style watering hole, a male defendant blurts out to the proprietor who is a judge, 'When I was walking the back streets, I just got sick and tired of everything.' The judge tells him, 'Everybody feels totally desolate at times.' Interestingly, the story's setting is that this 'court of the future' was established by the Supreme Court to change the 'authoritarian judicial system dating to the Meiji Era (1868-1912).' As the judge keeps lending a sympathetic ear to the defendant, the latter breaks down in tears and promises to turn his life around. Apparently satisfied with the result, the judge notes, 'If you are always good and righteous, you'll start drifting away from society.' Jinpachi Mori (1958-2015), the creator of this manga, was deeply committed to reforming the judicial system in real life. A supporter of 'saiban-in seido' or the citizen judge system, Mori held that 'the people who will be most relieved and made happy by this system are the judges themselves.' He went on to explain that the system will give the judges a chance to receive inspiration from citizens and win their trust by showing them what they can do. On May 21, the citizen judge system turned 16. Over the years, about 130,000 citizens have participated, most of whom found the experience to be 'favorable,' according to a survey by the Supreme Court. Has this made the judges 'happy'? In a story in The Asahi Shimbun, the judges said they found the citizens' viewpoints 'refreshing.' And many judges made positive remarks, such as that they are cautioning themselves against taking trials for granted. I hope they are being honest. I am relieved that the initial doubts, voiced in certain quarters about the ability of ordinary citizens to act as judges, have proven unfounded. However, given the fact that nearly 70 percent of people who were called up for service have declined, I realize how difficult it is for the system to take root. When all is said and done, courts still remain unfamiliar places for the general public. I won't say they should become as 'approachable' as izakaya, but I wish they would become less distant. —The Asahi Shimbun, May 22 * * * Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
NHK
16-05-2025
- NHK
Japan to list historic canal as national treasure
Japan's government is updating its list of national treasures. The new addition is a historic canal running from Lake Biwa to the city of Kyoto. The Agency for Cultural Affairs made the announcement on Friday. An expert panel singled out five facilities, including a brick aqueduct at Nanzenji Temple, three tunnels, and a railway for transporting boats up and down a slope. They were constructed during the Meiji era in the late 19th century, when Japan adopted engineering and construction technologies from the West. The experts say the facilities are profoundly significant because they became an essential part of Kyoto's landscape. The agency also says a set of 24 structures along the canal will be designated as important cultural properties. And so will "Tower of the Sun," a landmark in Osaka Prefecture designed by artist Okamoto Taro. The work served as the centerpiece of the 1970 World Expo. The expert panel says the event has come to symbolize Japan's postwar economic boom.
