Notorious death-row inmate Ryuuji Kobayashi was found deceased in his cell at the Osaka Detention Center. The cause and circumstances surrounding his death remain undisclosed. The Japanese Ministry of Justice is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

In Japan, the death penalty and its procedures are often concealed from public scrutiny, highlighted by this incident with Ryuuji Kobayashi. There is a deep divide in the country regarding capital punishment, with many pointing out the inherent human rights issues. The latest incident adds fuel to this ongoing debate.

Unlike Japan, both the US and the EU uphold more transparency in terms of prison system, especially matters related to death sentence convicts. In the EU, capital punishment is abolished entirely, while in the US, although capital punishment is still practiced, information surrounding such instances is often publically accessible.