JAPAN: DEATH ROW INMATE WHO BURIED 2 MEN ALIVE IN 2006 FOUND DEAD IN CELL

February 3, 2026:

A death row inmate convicted of killing two people by burying them alive in Okayama Prefecture in western Japan in 2006, died on January 31, 2026, the Justice Ministry said, with suicide being suspected.
Ryuji Kobayashi, 41, was found in his cell with a futon cover wrapped around his neck at Osaka Detention House after an officer opened the door to check on him at 7:30 a.m.
He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
An official probe is underway, according to local reporting.
According to the ruling, which was finalized in 2011, Kobayashi played a leading role in the gang-bashing of two men who had a dispute with his friend. He then buried them alive at a garbage dump in Okayama.
Kobayashi's death now leaves the total number of convicts on death row at 103.
This death raises questions about notification practices, mental health support, and oversight inside detention.
The case highlights long delays before executions and limited prior notice practices often cited by rights groups.
Rights advocates say limits on advance notification can heighten stress for people on death row and families.
The event could trigger reviews of detention protocols and spark parliamentary questions, drawing broader public and investor attention to governance and accountability inside closed facilities.