Most major newspapers have published the name of a 19-year-old man who was indicted Friday in an alleged case of murder and arson in October — a first for them that follows revisions to various legislation that took effect April 1 to reflect the lowered age of adulthood from 20 to 18.
Yuki Endo, from Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, was indicted over the murder of a married couple in their 50s at their home in Kofu, an attack on their daughter and the burning down of their house. Their bodies were found in the gutted remains.
The Asahi Shimbun, Mainichi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and the Nikkei reported the man’s name in their Saturday editions. The only newspaper that withheld the suspect's name was the Tokyo Shimbun, which cited the importance of supporting the rehabilitation of young offenders — 19-year-olds were deemed to be minors until April 1.