The Death Penalty in Japan : Will the Public Tolerate Abolition?

This book examines public attitudes to the death penalty in Japan, focusing on knowledge and trust-based attitudinal factors relating to support for, and opposition to, the death penalty. A mixed-method approach was used. Quantitative and qualitative surveys were mounted to assess Japanese death penalty attitudes. The main findings show that death penalty attitudes are not fixed but fluid. Information has a significant impact on reducing support for the death penalty while retributive attitudes are associated with support. This book offers a new conceptual framework in understanding the death penalty without replying on the usual human rights approach, which can be widely applied not just to Japan but to other retentionist countries. Mai Sato examines public attitudes to the death penalty in Japan, focusing on knowledge and attitudinal factors relating to support for, and opposition to, the death penalty. She uses a mixed-method approach and mounts quantitative and qualitative surveys to assess Japanese death penalty attitudes. The author's main findings show that death penalty attitudes are not fixed but fluid. Information has a significant impact on reducing support for the death penalty while retributive attitudes are associated with support. This book offers a new conceptual framework in understanding the death penalty without relying on the usual human rights approach, which can be widely applied not just to Japan but to other retentionist countries. Contents · Public Attitudes towards the Death Penalty · Critical Examination of the Japanese Government Survey · Experimental Survey Examining the Impact of Information on Support for the Death Penalty Target Groups · Researchers and students in the fields of sociology, law, political sciences, criminology, socio-legal studies, Japan studies and Asian studies · NGOs, policymakers, civil society The Author Mai Sato completed her PhD at King's College London in 2011. She is currently a Research Fellow at the Institute for Criminal Policy Research, Birkbeck, University of London, and a Research Officer at the Centre for Criminology, University of Oxford Front Matter....Pages 1-19 Introduction: Vox Populi, Vox Dei?....Pages 21-35 Public Attitudes towards the Death Penalty....Pages 37-62 Critical Examination of the Japanese Government Survey....Pages 63-76 Methodology....Pages 77-103 The Preliminary Survey....Pages 105-125 The Experimental Survey....Pages 127-156 The Deliberative Consultation....Pages 157-180 Conclusion....Pages 181-194 Back Matter....Pages 195-255