MF. Countries that retain the death penalty do so because it fulfills societal needs. Japan has a sociological need for scapegoats. This is the vestige of a highly stratified society, which dates back to the caste system of the 17th century. Additionally, the Japanese are some of the most non-religious people in the world, but they are superstitious and believe in karma. The Great Kanto earthquake shook the nation in 1923. It was followed by the massacre of 6,000 Korean residents . A rumor had spread that Koreans had poisoned the water supply and committed all sorts of crimes against the population. This ‘fear of the other’ phenomenon propels capital punishment in many countries.
In the US, the death penalty mostly occurs in the southern states, with a longer history of slavery. Capital punishment is perceived as a deterrent against Blacks: ’the other.’ This concept of ‘other’ is subjective to every country. For example, in Iran, the ‘other’ are political deviants whereas Saudi Arabia executes mostly foreigners. In Pakistan, Christians are deemed threatening. In Japan, those executed are predominantly Japanese. In many countries, but certainly in Japan, executions are a schadenfreude for the general public (a German expression referring to a pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others, editor’s note), a vent of stress to relieve the weight of a heavy hierarchical society with strict social constructs.
Executions do not make society safer or saner, but fulfill deeply rooted societal needs. It is about politics, fear and power.
