The Hino Town incident, which occurred in 1984 in Shiga Prefecture, involved the murder of a 69-year-old woman who owned a liquor store, and the subsequent theft of money from her store's safe. The case has recently gained attention as Japan's Supreme Court has agreed to reopen the case for retrial, concerning the life sentence given to Hiroshi Akihara, who passed away recently. Asahi Shimbun, in an investigative series set to launch in March 2024, has scrutinized approximately 1,000 pieces of evidence and interviewed around 50 individuals related to the case, aiming to uncover more about the police and judicial process during the investigation.

The renewed interest in the Hino Town incident raises significant questions about the police and judicial conduct during the case. This inquiry was conducted by a team of 15 reporters who aimed to interview former police officers involved in the investigation. Out of the 26 individuals they wished to contact, only seven were accessible and able to provide insights, with several declining participation due to health issues or unavailability. The 1984 case saw Akihara interrogated by two opposing types of investigators, but initial interrogations did not yield a confession, placing a spotlight on the investigative techniques employed at the time and the decision-making that followed.

The ongoing legal assessment of the case has highlighted that only once before has a posthumous retrial for murder been acknowledged in Japan since World War II. As members of the original investigative team reflect on the past and the implications of their actions, this story not only brings historical context to the Hino Town incident but also seeks to assess the legacy of the judicial decisions made and the potential for justice to be served over three decades later. The continuing examination of such cases is crucial for public trust in the legal system and highlights the need for transparency in similar investigations across Japan.