Even though 10 years have passed since Norio Nagayama was executed for the murder of four people, his name still gets into the news.
In debates over capital punishment, the so-called Nagayama Criteria is referred to as a basic guideline for applying the death sentence, and royalties from his novels written in prison have supported disadvantaged children overseas, particularly in Peru, where his works have helped promote mutual exchanges with Japan.
Evaluation of his crimes and achievements remains a big issue among legal experts and capital punishment foes on the 10th anniversary of his death.