Kumamoto has an unfortunate history of false convictions for murder. The first, and most famous, to be reversed was the death sentence of MENDA Sakae. Details about Mr. Menda’s case can be found at:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakae_Menda
Mr. Menda is still alive and I think he is living in Omuta City, just north of Kumamoto Prefecture. Here’s the address of a lengthy article in The Indepedent about his ordeal:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/i-spent-34-years-on-japans-death-row-1787340.html
I’m glad that Mr. Miyata (pictured) is likely to be exonerated, though it has taken far to long to get to this point.
– Kirk
