The Tokyo District Court sentenced a man to five years in prison on Friday for a robbery and assault committed in 1995 [1].
The ruling concludes a decades-long pursuit of a suspect who evaded Japanese authorities by living abroad, highlighting the legal reach of the state over long-term fugitives.
Kunio Aihara, whose age is reported between 62 [2] and 63 [1], was convicted of a robbery in the Kamata area of Ota-ku [3]. During the 1995 crime, Aihara stole approximately 700,000 yen [1]. Following the incident, he fled to the Philippines, where he remained for about 30 years [1].
Prosecutors requested a sentence of eight years, saying that the responsibility for fleeing for approximately 30 years after a dangerous crime is heavy [1]. The defense countered by requesting a sentence of three years and six months, saying that Aihara lived in poverty and suffered while in hiding [1].
The court rejected the defense's plea for leniency. The judge said it was clear the crime was driven by personal greed and that there were no mitigating factors for such a shallow and selfish motive [1].
Aihara was apprehended at Narita Airport after returning to Japan [2, 3]. While reports differ on the exact timing of his return, one source indicates he was captured in October 2025 [2], while another states he was arrested upon deportation from the Philippines on June 16 [3].
The final sentence of five years falls between the prosecution's demand and the defense's request [1].
“The responsibility for fleeing for approximately 30 years after a dangerous crime is heavy.”
This sentencing underscores the Japanese judiciary's stance that long-term evasion of justice does not erase the severity of the original crime. By rejecting the defense's argument that a life of poverty during exile serves as a mitigating factor, the court reaffirms that the duration of a flight does not substitute for legal accountability.
