Michitoshi Kuma, who was hanged in 2008 for the kidnapping and killing of two girls in Fukuoka, argued his innocence right up until his execution.
Kuma continued to assert his innocence even after his death sentence was finalized in 2006, saying "the truth will come to light," and expressing hope that his trial would be reopened.
To fulfill his last wish, Kuma's wife filed a request for a retrial in 2009.