Satoshi Hamada who wants to meet with the Pope Participates in the symposium November 22 16:08

Before the Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church visits Japan from the 23rd, a symposium was held on the theme of the death penalty system opposed by the Pope, and death row prisoner Kamata wishing to meet with the Pope Aoi also participated.

The symposium was held in Tokyo as Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church, opposed to the death penalty system, visited Japan on the 23rd, and after the death penalty was finalized in the so-called "Iwata Incident" in 1966, it was innocent. Satoshi Hamada and his sister Hideko, who are seeking retrial and seeking trial retrial, also participated.

Mr. Hamada was released five years ago at the Shizuoka District Court, but the Tokyo High Court refused to do so, and the defense team made a special appeal to the Supreme Court.

Catholic believers Mr. Hirota and Mr. Hideko are invited to a mass held in Tokyo on the 25th in hopes of meeting with the Pope.

If the Pope and Mr. Hamada, the death row prisoner, can meet, there is a possibility of international interest in the Japanese capital punishment system.

Hideko, who gave a lecture, said, “The niece remains in custody due to her long life in detention center, but she is allowed to live as she likes, such as taking a walk. After being released,“ Freedom ”has sprung up in her heart. I think that is, "he said.

Mr. Hamada was baptized 35 years ago in jail

83-year-old Satoshi Hamada lives with her sister Hideko (86) while receiving support from a supporter at her home in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Mr. Hamada who has been detained for more than 47 years. According to Hideko, he was baptized 35 years ago in Tokyo Detention Center, where he was held as a death row prisoner, and became a Catholic believer.

Ms. Hirota, who was released five years ago in response to the decision of the Shizuoka District Court to accept a retrial, has participated in various activities with Hideko to appeal the death penalty.

In May, Hideko said to Pope Francis of the Roman Catholic Church who opposed the capital punishment system: “I pay tribute to the fact that I am trying to abolish the death penalty. But if you meet me, it will be the best gift for your life. ”

Hideko-san said, “I am very happy if it is realized. I am still a death row prisoner. I am very grateful to meet the death row prisoner.”

It is a daily routine for Mr. Hamada to walk near his home after one year from his release, and every day around 1pm, he walks for about 4 hours at a long time.

Hideko thinks that it is the influence of the detention life, "I think that I think that I am guarding by looking around in the city. I do not understand easily, but I act in my world I think they are doing. "

Currently, Mr. Hamada has no major health problems, but the influence of his detention life at the detention center still remains, and conversation and communication are difficult.

According to Hideko, Mr. Hamada sometimes says, "I am the Pope of Rome" or "I am going to Rome today".

Hideko says, "I am a death row prisoner and anything. I want to abolish the death penalty system."

Last June, the Tokyo High Court canceled the decision of the Shizuoka District Court and issued a decision not to allow a retrial. The defense team has made a special appeal to the Supreme Court for retrial.