JAPAN: DEATH PENALTY FOR MAN WHO KILLED FOUR IN GUN AND KNIFE ATTACK

October 14, 2025:

A Japanese court on October 14, 2025 sentenced a 34-year-old man to death for murdering two women as they were out for a stroll and two policemen who responded to the scene of the attack in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, in 2023.
The Nagano District Court ruled that Masanori Aoki, a farmer, was fully criminally responsible for the killings, dismissing the defense's argument that a life sentence was appropriate since he was in a state of diminished mental capacity at the time.
"It was an atrocious crime in which four precious lives were taken based on a strong intent to kill," Presiding Judge Masashi Sakata said.
Prosecutors had demanded the death sentence, arguing that Aoki was aware that he was committing a crime and therefore fully responsible.
Aoki's defense argued he was unable to tell right from wrong due to a delusional disorder and schizophrenia.
The court heard that on the evening of May 25, 2023, Aoki fatally stabbed his neighbors Yasuko Takeuchi, 70, and Yukie Murakami, 66, while they were out for a walk in the city of Nakano, believing they were bad-mouthing him behind his back.
He later shot policemen Takuo Ikeuchi, 61, and Yoshiki Tamai, 46, after they arrived at the scene in response to an emergency call, with a hunting rifle.
Aoki also stabbed Tamai after shooting him.
Japan has strict gun ownership rules and only allows civilians to own hunting rifles and airguns. People have to undergo a strict exam and mental health tests to buy a gun in Japan.
Following the quadruple murders, authorities tightened the laws to make it harder to own "half-rifles" - a hunting rifle like the one Aoki used.