Hakamata emerges publicly post acquittal.

After 58 years since his arrest in a murder case, Iwao Hakamata, a former Japanese death-row inmate, was acquitted in a retrial. This Monday marked his first public appearance since his final acquittal last week, where he expressed his relief and gratitude to his supporters in Shizuoka.

At 88 years old, Hakamata, accompanied by his 91-year-old sister Hideko, arrived at the gathering in a wheelchair. Supporters presented him with flowers and a boxing champion belt, evoking emotions from the former professional boxer.

Having originally received a death sentence in 1980, Hakamata’s retrial began in 2023, leading to his official acquittal on September 26. Prosecutors chose not to appeal the ruling, allowing Hakamata to finally clear his name after years of legal battles.