Sadamichi Hirasawa

Sadamichi Hirasawa (15 February 1892 – 10 May 1987) was a Japanese painter and convicted bank robber, known for his involvement in the Teigin Incident, one of the most infamous criminal cases in Japan. Hirasawa was convicted for poisoning and killing twelve people with cyanide under the guise of being a public health official conducting a disease prevention procedure during the chaos of post-World War II Japan.

Early Life

Sadamichi Hirasawa was born in 1892 in Tokyo, Japan. Before his involvement in the Teigin Incident, Hirasawa was a relatively unknown painter who struggled to gain recognition in the Japanese art scene. His life took a drastic turn following his arrest for the Teigin Incident, which overshadowed his artistic endeavors.

Teigin Incident

On 26 January 1948, a man posing as a public health official entered the Teikoku Bank (Teigin) in the Shiinamachi district of Tokyo. Claiming that a dysentery outbreak required immediate inoculation of the bank's staff, the impostor distributed a liquid to the employees and customers present, which they were instructed to drink. The liquid contained a lethal dose of cyanide, resulting in the death of twelve people and leaving several others in critical condition.

Hirasawa was arrested on 7 May 1948, after his handwriting matched that of the poisoner's. Despite inconsistencies in witness testimonies and a lack of direct evidence linking him to the crime scene, Hirasawa was convicted largely based on his confession, which he later claimed was coerced through torture and intimidation.

Trial and Conviction

Hirasawa's trial was highly publicized and controversial. He was found guilty in 1950 and sentenced to death. However, doubts about the validity of the evidence against him and the fairness of his trial led to numerous appeals and a widespread public debate over his guilt. Hirasawa never recanted his claim of innocence, and his case became a cause célèbre, attracting attention from human rights activists, legal experts, and the general public.

Despite the controversy, Hirasawa's death sentence was never carried out. He remained on death row for nearly 40 years, making him one of the longest-held death row inmates in Japan. Hirasawa died of pneumonia in 1987, still maintaining his innocence.

Legacy

The Teigin Incident and Hirasawa's subsequent trial have left a lasting impact on Japanese society and its legal system. The case has been cited as an example of the potential miscarriage of justice and the importance of due process. It has also inspired numerous books, films, and television dramas in Japan, reflecting the enduring fascination and controversy surrounding the case.

Hirasawa's paintings, largely forgotten during his lifetime due to his notoriety, have gained some recognition posthumously. Exhibitions of his work have been held, allowing a reevaluation of Hirasawa not just as a convicted criminal, but as an artist.

See Also

• Teigin Incident
• Miscarriage of justice
• Capital punishment in Japan