On April 6, the wife, eldest son, and second son of the late Shizuo Aishima filed suit against the Japanese government, arguing that the decisions of the 37 judges who issued arrest and detention warrants and repeatedly denied bail were unlawful.

Mr. Aishima, a former company advisor of Ohkawara Kakohki, was wrongfully arrested and detained for nearly eleven months without bail, and passed away from cancer in February 2021 at the age of 72.

"Hostage justice" refers to the practice of subjecting suspects and defendants to prolonged detention — stripping them of all freedom and dignity — as a means of coercing cooperation with investigations.

Through Mr. Aishima's case, this lawsuit aims to hold judges accountable for their role in "hostage justice," a practice widely criticized both in Japan and abroad, and to put an end to the pervasive human rights violations carried out through the judiciary.

This lawsuit marks the ninth case supported by LEDGE, Japan's first organization dedicated exclusively to public interest litigation. Members of LEDGE have joined the legal team and will provide support through research, communications, and campaign activities.

We sincerely hope for your support and encouragement.