Hideko Hakamata dedicated over 56 years to securing her brother Iwao’s acquittal from a wrongful death sentence. After being convicted in 1968 for a quadruple murder he didn’t commit, Iwao spent decades on death row in Japan, enduring mental health deterioration due to life in confinement. His case highlights the systemic issues in Japan’s justice system, where coerced confessions and wrongful convictions are alarmingly common. Upon his exoneration in September 2024, the court recognized the fabrication of evidence, raising critical questions about legal practices in Japan.