Akira Mikazuki


Akira Mikazuki was a former justice minister of Japan and Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University. He was a leading figure in civil procedure scholarship.

Career

Mikazuki was an attorney and law professor. He was a member of the Arbitration Law Study Group who drafted the arbitration law in 1989.
He was appointed justice minister under the non-Liberal Democratic Party Hosokawa Morihiro cabinet, although he was not a politician. He replaced Masaharu Gotoda as justice minister. He was in office from 9 August 1993 to 28 April 1994. His successor was Shigeto Nagano.
Mikazuki reported that anyone who had plans to abolish capital punishment could not accept an appointment as justice minister. He approved executions for four death row inmates and believed in the deterrent effect of capital punishment. Four executions were carried out during his term in Autumn 1993.
Mikazuki was also one of the Japanese politicians who fervently denied the perpetration of the massacre of Nanking by the Japanese Imperial Military during World War II.

Awards

Mikazuki received the Order of Culture award in Tokyo on 7 November 2007.

Death

Mikazuki died on 14 November 2010.