Hiroaki Murayama

A lawyer who is a member of the Tokyo Bar Association. He served as a judge for approximately 39 years, including as a judge of the Shizuoka District Court where he was involved in the decision to reopen the case against Iwao Hakamada, who had been kept in prison for decades. Currently working actively to revise retrial law. Let’s correct the distortions of the criminal justice system, such as hostage justice.

Junichiro Hironaka

A lawyer since 1970, he has handled a wide range of cases, including criminal, medical, and media-related matters. Notable cases he has been involved in include the case of Kazuyoshi Miura, the Takeshi Abe case involving HIV-tainted blood products, the Ichiro Ozawa case about political fundraising, the Atsuko Muraki case, the Muneo Suzuki case, the Carlos Ghosn case, and a case over the side-effects from a drug called chloroquine.

Yoichi Kitamura

Admitted to the bar in Japan in 1977 and in New York State in 1983. Currently serving as the representative director of the public interest association, the Japan Civil Liberties Union. The question is, even if there are prosecutors who seek convictions rather than the truth, can we say that in Japan such actions would be held in check by independent judges?

Yuichi Kaido

He has served as a member of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations’ Committee for Reform of the Criminal Detention System since 1982, as well as a member of the International Human Rights Conventions Working Group. In 1995, he founded the Prison Rights Center, where he held the positions of Secretary-General, Vice-Representative, and Representative. Since 1998, he has been participating in the UN Human Rights Committee and the Committee Against Torture’s reviews of Japan. His life’s work has been to reform Japan’s hostage justice system and the human rights of criminal detainees in accordance with international human rights standards. He has high hopes that this trial will be a breakthrough.

Makoto Ito

President of Ito Private Preparatory School and a lawyer (Tokyo Bar Association). While spending his long career educating lawyers who uphold constitutional values, he has also been involved in constitutional lawsuits to realize constitutionalism and human rights protections. The Kadokawa hostage lawsuit is a human rights trial to restore human dignity.

Yusuke Taira

Lawyer (Tokyo Bar Association, Eisei Law Office), administrative law scholar. Primarily engaged in administrative litigation and lawsuits involving constitutional violations. This lawsuit will reveal how individuals are subjected to severe human rights abuses and stripped of their human dignity through the medieval approach of “hostage justice.”

Ryutaro Ogawa

Lawyer and Secretary-General of the international human rights NGO Human Rights Now. Deputy Secretary-General of the International Human Rights Conventions Working Group of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations. The United Nations has repeatedly pointed out that “hostage justice” violates international conventions. Now is the time to bridge the gap with international standards.

Yoshiyuki Nishi

Former judge and lawyer (Osaka Bar Association, Goto Shin-yu Law Office). Engaged in research and assistance regarding wrongful convictions. Author of “Enzai Gaku” (Anatomy of Innocence). Because I believe in the justice system, with this trial, I want to put an end to hostage justice.

Ryota Mizuno

Lawyer (Member of the Daini Tokyo Bar Association). Graduate of Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law, and of the Legal Training and Research Institute (71st class). Affiliated with Law Office Hironaka. Hostage justice distorts individual lives and trials. Let’s put an end to it now.

Yuki Tamamushi

Professor of Law at Nihon University. J.D. (Juris Doctor). His research focuses on constitutional law, particularly human rights. Author of “The Legal Principles of Assuring Human Dignity.” I am interested in pursuing the proper administration of criminal procedures from the perspective of assuring human dignity and the protection of human rights under the constitution.