Life imprisonment (無期懲役, muki chōeki) is one of the most severe punishments available in Japan, second only to the death penalty.
The punishment is of indefinite length and may last for the remainder of the person's life.
The punishment may be imposed for murder, terrorism, robbery, treason, kidnapping and other serious violent offenses.
[2] The rate of re-offending for most released prisoners is low, and the popularity of the death sentence is generally attributed to retribution.
Those who are against the death penalty are calling for alternative longer sentences, with more than 10 years before being able to get parole, or jū mukikei (重無期刑), a life sentence without the possibility of parole.