A man who survived an attempted murder in Nagoya in 2002 and his wife are campaigning for the removal of the statute of limitations on attempted murder cases in Japan. The couple argues that the current legal framework, which abolished statutes of limitations only for crimes resulting in death, leaves victims of serious assault vulnerable to unresolved justice.

Yoshitaka Yasuda, 61, was shot and stabbed during a robbery at a pachinko parlor parking lot on November 18, 2002. Two men targeted security guards collecting cash, shooting two individuals and stealing approximately ¥8.7 million before fleeing. Yasuda sustained gunshot wounds to his neck and leg, as well as a stab wound to his side. Surviving the attack, he has since been confined to a wheelchair due to quadriplegia from a cervical spinal cord injury and faces ongoing health challenges including a skin condition, severe hand pain, and breathing difficulties. His wife, Izumi, 57, provides daily care for him.

Despite the severity of the attack, the statute of limitations for attempted murder prevented prosecutors from pursuing the perpetrators. Yasuda was initially told the 2010 legislative amendments that abolished the statute of limitations for murder would also apply to his case. However, in 2016, he received notice that evidence would be returned because the statute was set to expire a year later. Police acknowledged the initial miscommunication and apologized, clarifying that since Yasuda survived, the statute still applied and limited their options.

Following the 2010 amendments, the Japanese parliament passed a supplementary resolution urging consideration of extending limitations abolition to serious non-fatal crimes. Yet, no concrete measures have been adopted in the subsequent 16 years. Izumi Yasuda has persistently petitioned the central government since 2017 to abolish the statute of limitations for attempted murder cases that cause severe, lifelong disabilities. Though her efforts remain under review, she emphasizes her resolve to continue advocating on behalf of victims.

The campaign aligns with other recent movements addressing limitations on fatal hit-and-run cases. In 2009, a child was fatally struck in Kumagaya, Saitama Prefecture, prompting the Saitama Prefectural Assembly in 2022 to call for the removal of the statute of limitations on such offenses following demands from bereaved families. Inspired by this development, Izumi Yasuda successfully lobbied the Aichi Prefectural Assembly to adopt a similar position in 2025.

In March 2026, Sora no Kai, an organization representing families of murder victims, declared plans to petition the government for extending the abolition of statutes of limitations to include attempted murder and fatal hit-and-run cases. Izumi Yasuda expressed hope that the government’s response will help prevent perpetrators from evading accountability and spare others from enduring the frustration experienced by victims caught in the current system.