The government has customarily granted pardons to people convicted of crimes on the occasion of major national events, including in congratulations or in mourning related to the imperial family. The pardons granted last week in light of Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony were targeted at roughly 550,000 people who had committed mainly petty offenses to restore their suspended rights.
The system of amnesty in Japan dates back to the Nara Period in the eighth century. The system was originally meant as a tool for governing in which rulers showed their mercy by pardoning criminals to gain popular support. Today, however, questions persist over the practice because it results in the administrative branch overturning or altering criminal punishments handed down by the judiciary. This round of pardons should give people a chance to consider whether the current system of the government granting amnesty is appropriate in view of the separation of powers in modern society.
The government says that the granting of such pardons is significant because it serves as an incentive for people who have committed crimes to work to rehabilitate themselves and make a full return to society. However, it is questionable whether the pardons uniformly granted to convicted offenders who meet conditions set by government ordinance — without examining the degree of rehabilitation of the convicted people on a case-by-case basis — will truly serve that purpose.