3. Number of death sentences in High Courts (Since 1956)
The following statistics are based on the "Annual Report of Judicial Statistics ('Shiho-Tokei') ("司法統計年報," from FY1956 to the present)”, with the exception of the data about "Results of the High Courts in case ofdeath penallty sentenced by trial courts” in FY1973 and FY1975-1984, which were provided by Mizuho Fukushima, member of the House of Representatives.
Hyphens ("-") mean that no statistical data exists.
Outcomes of High Court proceedings in cases of death sentences imposed by trial courts
Totalnumber ofsentencesin High
CourtsYEAR

Trial court judgments reversed
Number ofappeals

High Court imposed sentence
deathpenalty

sentence other thandeath penalty

High Court
remanded/tr
ansferredAppealdismissed

Indictment
dismissed

Appealwithdrawn

Sources: Annual Report of Judicial Statistics ('Shiho-High Court
Tokei') II (Criminal)
substituted lesser
sentence of trial
court with death
Results of the High Courts inReversed by High Courts andpenalty
case of death penallty sentenced
imposed the death penalty
by trial courts

Showa 311956--7 (life imprisonment)

--

-

5-

1956 vol.2, p.408-9, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 19)

Showa 321957--

5 (life imprisonment)

-

--

5-

1957 vol.2, p.372-73, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 19)

Showa 33

1958

16

33

15 (14 life imprisonment,
1 indefinite term 10 to15 years)

15

3

1

Showa 34

1959

29

35

5 (1 life imprisonment,four acquitted)

29

1

Showa 35

1960

1819

2 (life imprisonment)

16

1

Showa 36

1961

1121

11 (5 life imprisonment,
1 indefinite term 6months to one year andfive acquittals)

8

Showa 37

1962

1722

Showa 38

1963

715

Showa 39
Showa 40

1964
1965

9121113

Showa 41

1966

1719

Showa 42
Showa 43

1967
1968

9101314

Showa 44

1969

1614

Showa 45
Showa 46

1970
1971

6587

Showa 47

1972

610

Showa 48
Showa 49
Showa 50
Showa 51
Showa 52
Showa 53
Showa 54

1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979

434
6
23-

Showa 55

1980

5-

Showa 56
Showa 57
Showa 58

1981
1982
1983

2
94-

2

1

1

1958 vol.2, p.294-5, Cases of
Criminal Appeals(Table 23)

1958 vol.2, p.288-9, Cases of
Criminal Appeals(Table 19)

1959 vol.2, p.294-5, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 23)

1959 vol.2, p.288-9, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 19)21960 vol.2, p.298-9, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 23)

1960 vol.2, p.292-3, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 19)131961 vol.2, p.298-9, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 23)

1961 vol.2, p.292-3, Cases ofCriminal Appeals(Table 19)21962 vol.2, Table 93, p.300-1

1962 vol.2, Table 87, p.294-5

1963 vol.2, Table 86, p.268-9

1963 vol.2, Table 82, p.264-5221964 vol.2, Table 86, p.268-9
1965, Table 80, p.558-91964 vol.2, Table 82, p.264-5
1965, Table 78, p.554-5

3

1966, Table 81, p.558-9

1966, Table 77, p.554-5

1111967, Table 80, p.546-7
1968, Table 80, p.534-5

1967, Table 76, p.542-3
1968, Table 76, p.530-1

10151969, Table 80, p.546-7

1969, Table 76, p.542-3

53

2
112

1970, Table 80, p.544-5
1971, Table 80, p.548-9

1970, Table 76, p.540-1
1971, Table 76, p.544-5

61

1972, Table 80, p.572-3

1972, Table 76, p.568-9

16 (life imprisonment)
7 (6 life imprisonment, 1indefinite term 10 to 15years)

1517

13 (life imprisonment)
3 (life imprisonment)

785 (3 life imprisonment, 1indefinite term 15 to 20years, 1 for 10 to 15years)

14

3 (life imprisonment)
4 (life imprisonment)
2 (1 life imprisonment, 1fine)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
3 (2 life imprisonment, 1indefinite term 6 months
to one year)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (indefinite term 15 to
20 years)
2 (life imprisonment)
3 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)

1991345
12--

24--

1

1973, Table 75, p.580-1
1974, Table 75, p.578-9
1975, Table 65, p.350-1
1976, Table 65, p.360-1
1977, Table 65, p.350-1
Based on sources obtained from 1978, Table 63, p.342-3
the Supreme Court by Mizuho
Fukushima, Member of the House 1979, Table 63, p.342-3
of Representatives
1980, Table 63, p.342-3

293--1

1981, Table 63, p.342-3
1982, Table 63, p.342-3
1983, Table 63, p.338-9

111

3. Number of death sentences in High Courts (Since 1956)
The following statistics are based on the "Annual Report of Judicial Statistics ('Shiho-Tokei') ("司法統計年報," from FY1956 to the present)”, with the exception of the data about "Results of the High Courts in case ofdeath penallty sentenced by trial courts” in FY1973 and FY1975-1984, which were provided by Mizuho Fukushima, member of the House of Representatives.
Hyphens ("-") mean that no statistical data exists.
Outcomes of High Court proceedings in cases of death sentences imposed by trial courts
Total
number ofsentencesin HighCourts

YEAR

Trial court judgments reversed
Number ofappeals

High Court imposed sentence
deathpenalty

sentence other thandeath penalty
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)

Showa 59
Showa 60
Showa 61
Showa 62
Showa 63
Showa 64 /Heisei 1

1984
1985
1986
1987
1988

6578
4

68861989

54

Heisei 2

1990

36

Heisei 3
Heisei 4
Heisei 5
Heisei 6
Heisei 7
Heisei 8
Heisei 9
Heisei 10
Heisei 11
Heisei 12Heisei 13
Heisei 14
Heisei 15
Heisei 16
Heisei 17

1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005

4414432746164171515542454573515421
1315

Heisei 18

2006

15

162 (life imprisonment)

Heisei 19
Heisei 20
Heisei 21
Heisei 22
Heisei 23
Heisei 24
Heisei 25
Heisei 26
Heisei 27
Heisei 28
Heisei 29
Heisei 30
Heisei 31/
Reiwa 1
Reiwa 2
Reiwa 3
Reiwa 4
Reiwa 520072008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
201420152016
2017
2018

1414932538140219
129245691
42
2

1 (life imprisonment)

2019

3

51 (life imprisonment)

2020
2021
2022
2023

0
2
112
2
22

1 (life imprisonment)

Hyphens ("-") mean that no statistical data exists.

High Court
remanded/tr
ansferredAppealdismissed

Indictment
dismissed

Appealwithdrawn

64
7
8
4-1

1985, Table 55, p.318-9
1986, Table 55, p.318-9
1987, Table 55, p.318-9
1988, Table 55, p.318-9

1984, Table 63, p.338-9
1985, Table 64, p.340-1
1986, Table 64, p.340-1
1987, Table 64, p.340-1
1988, Table 64, p.340-1

1

1989, Table 55, p.330-1

1989, Table 64, p.352-3

1990, Table 55, p.330-1

1990, Table 64, p.352-3

43

1991, Table 55, p.338-9
1992, Table 55, p.338-9
1993, Table 55, p.340-1
1994, Table 55, p.340-1
1995, Table 55, p.340-1
1996, Table 55, p.340-1
1997, Table 55, p.340-1
1998, Table 55, p.340-1
1999, Table 49 , p.88-89
2000, Table 49 , p.88-89
2001, Table 49 , p.88-89
2002, Table 49 , p.88-89
2003, Table 49 , p.88-89
2004, Table 49 , p.88-89
2005, Table 50 , p.90-91

1991, Table 64, p.360-1
1992, Table 64, p.360-1
1993, Table 64, p.362-3
1994, Table 64, p.362-3
1995, Table 64, p.362-3
1996, Table 64, p.362-3
1997, Table 64, p.362-3
1998, Table 64, p.362-3
1999, Table 58, p.108-9
2000, Table 58, p.108-9
2001, Table 58, p.108-9
2002, Table 58, p.108-9
2003, Table 58, p.108-9
2004, Table 58, p.108-9
2005, Table 59, p.108-93

2006, Table 58 , p.102-3

2006, Table 67, p.122-3

1221

2007, Table 58 , p.102-3
2008, Table 58 , p.102-3
2009, Table 63 , p.108-9
2010, Table 63 , p.108-9
2011, Table 63 , p.108-9
2012, Table 63 , p.108-9
2013, Table 63 , p.108-9
2014, Table 63 , p.108-9
2015, Table 63 , p.108-9
2016, Table 63 , p.108-9
2017, Table 63 , p.108-9
2018, Table 63

2007, Table 67, p.122-3
2008, Table 67, p.122-3
2009, Table 72, p.128-9
2010, Table 75, p.134-5
2011, Table 75, p.134-5
2012, Table 75, p.134-5
2013, Table 75, p.134-5
2014, Table 75, p.134-5
2015, Table 75, p.134-5
2016, Table 75, p.134-5
2017, Table 75, p.134-5
2018, Table 75

1

2019, Table 63

2019, Table 75

1

2020, Table 632021, Table 63
2022, Table 63

2020, Table 75
2021, Table 75
2022, Table 75

2023, Table 63

2023, Table 75

24
3 (2 life imprisonment, 1indefinite term 15 to 20years)

3

1 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)

11 (life imprisonment)

13 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)

1 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)
2 (life imprisonment)
1 (life imprisonment)

24
3
14
3
3
27
3
4123
1711
11
13(1decision)
131272253814112311111111511123211112 (life imprisonment)

1 (life imprisonment)

Based on sources obtained fromthe Supremeby Mizuho
Sources:Court
AnnualReport of Judicial Statistics ('ShihoFukushima, Member of the HouseHigh Court
Tokei') II (Criminal)ofRepresentatives
substituted lesser
sentence of trial
court with death
Results of the High Courts inReversed by High Courts andpenalty
case of death penallty sentenced
imposed the death penalty
by trial courts

13. Number of death sentences in High Courts (Since 1956)
The following statistics are based on the "Annual Report of Judicial Statistics ('Shiho-Tokei') ("司法統計年報," from FY1956 to the present)”, with the exception of the data about "Results of the High Courts in case ofdeath penallty sentenced by trial courts” in FY1973 and FY1975-1984, which were provided by Mizuho Fukushima, member of the House of Representatives.
Hyphens ("-") mean that no statistical data exists.
Outcomes of High Court proceedings in cases of death sentences imposed by trial courts
YEAR

Total
number ofsentencesin High
CourtsTrial court judgments reversed
Number ofappeals

High Court imposed sentence
deathpenalty

sentence other thandeath penalty

High Court
remanded/tr
ansferredAppealdismissed

Indictment
dismissed

Appealwithdrawn

Sources: Annual Report of Judicial Statistics ('Shiho-High Court
Tokei') II (Criminal)
substituted lesser
sentence of trial
court with death
Results of the High Courts inReversed by High Courts andpenalty
case of death penallty sentenced
imposed the death penalty
by trial courts

The statistics on the number of death sentences issued by the High Courts and the Supreme Court, as compiled by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, "Considering the Abolition of the DeathPenalty(https://www.nichibenren.or.jp/activity/criminal/deathpenalty/shiryou.html#data02_1)", were calculated using the following formulas:[total sentences in High Courts] = [dismissal] + [reversed and rendered] + [withdrawal][total sentences in Supreme Court] = [dismissal] + [reversed and rendered] + [withdrawal]
We calculated these same statistics by using the following formulas:[total sentences in High Courts] = [dismissal] + [reversed and rendered][total sentences in Supreme Court] = [dismissal] + [reversed and rendered]
Recommended citation: “Number of death sentences in High Court(crimeinfo.jp)”