How Is the Death Penalty System Seen by Young People in Japan?<br/>—An Analysis of a Survey of University Students

Abstract

We conducted a survey of 318 Japanese university students with the aim of examining two issues: how strongly Japanese people support or oppose the death penalty, and the reasons and beliefs underlying their positions. Those in favor of the death penalty (66%) outnumbered those against (17%) almost four to one, but this gap was considerably lower than that observed in previous research, including a public opinion poll commissioned by the Japanese Cabinet Office (80% vs. 10%). Furthermore, in terms of the degree to which people either support or oppose, the proportion of death penalty supporters who were “strongly in favor” was relatively low compared to the proportion of opponents with a similar strength of conviction. This finding suggests that death penalty supporters, after considering the arguments on both sides, may be more likely to change their position in the future. Looking at the relationship between position and beliefs, based on this survey, the international trend toward abolition and the introduction of life imprisonment as an alternative to the death penalty (as introduced in the United States) seem to have little influence on Japanese people’s position on the death penalty.