In addition, recently, it is common for TV and newspaper reports to be posted on the Web, and some news organizations may anonymize the names of the victims and perpetrators of cases only for Web-distributed articles.
He also commented, "There have been very few cases so far, and the acquittal of a death-row inmate in a retrial is a significant historical news in itself, which should be recorded in history along with his actual name.
In addition to considering the use of real names, we would also like to report on the background of the case, including the signs of the incident and the responses of those around the victim, in an effort to change the prejudice itself.
[7][8] In 2011, the death sentences were confirmed for the three main suspects in the Osaka, Aichi, and Gifu serial lynching murders, all of whom were 18 or 19 years old at the time of the crimes.
In response, Kenji Utsunomiya, president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, issued a statement saying, "This is a violation of the Juvenile Law and is extremely regrettable.
[10][11][12] In 2012, the Supreme Court of Japan sentenced the defendant, who was a juvenile (18 years old) at the time of the Hikari City mother and child murders, to death.
For example, when the 19-year-old defendant in the Kofu City murder and arson case in October 2021 was indicted on April 8 of the following year, NHK and the five major newspapers reported his real name, but the Chunichi Shimbun did not.
[18][19] Relevant Japanese Laws and Regulations Therefore, even if the reporting of real names by these media organizations appears to constitute a violation of the obligations, etc.
A similar concept can be found in the United Nations Minimum Standards for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Regulations) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
[22] In the case of the 1998 Sakai City street riot incident, a lawsuit seeking damages and an apology advertisement from Shinchosha, which reported the male assailant whose real name was reported in the monthly magazine "Shincho 45," was won by Shinchosha at the Osaka High Court in 2000 and became a final judgment after the plaintiff did not appeal the decision.
This idea stems from the principle of "Open Justice," which states that citizens can be monitored by revealing the process by which power is exercised.
[33][34][35][36] In May 2017, several reports said Victoria Police named or disclosed significant information about those who were suspected of, rather than charged with committing serious criminal offences in media.
[37] In May 2020, South Australia made a change to their Evidence Act which now allows the media to publish identifying information about a defendant after the accused person’s first court appearance.
[38][39] From October 2023, accused rapists and adults charged with sexual offences can be named by the media before they go to trial under Queensland law change.