The news centres around the dispute of handling the remains of deceased death row convict, Matsumoto. His second daughter won a legal victory surrounding the custody of his ashes. The incident has triggered discussions about family dynamics and cultural practices in Japan, entangled with the country's legal system.

In Japan, such family disputes over the remains of a deceased person holds significant cultural and societal importance, intertwining with their beliefs on ancestor reverence. The story also reflects on the underlying issues with the death penalty in Japan and its influence on familial relationships.

In contrast to Japan, such disputes in the US or EU may be less common due to differing cultural attitudes towards death and afterlife. The death penalty is largely abolished in the EU, and its use in the US is polarizing, with focus leaning more toward the criminal justice aspects rather than familial or societal repercussions.