Living on the Edge No. 38 - Diary of Mr. Yamano
April 16, 2002 (Tuesday)
April 17, 2002 (Wednesday)
At about 10:40 this morning, Maria came to see me. She usually brings good weather, but today it was raining. Partly because her sister came to visit, it has been three weeks since she last visited. We had lots of things to talk about, so I spoke at breakneck speed.
I received the second request for a written opinion ("Kyu-Ikensho") from the 7th criminal affairs section of the Osaka District Court. In April of this year, both the chief judge and the prosecutor in my case changed. There was practically no content, as it stated that the previous prosecutor in charge had claimed that there was a revision in the previous written opinion. The new procesutor also made mistakes, so I will point them out in my own written opinion. He wrote that the new evidence I pointed to had been used in the first trial, but in reality it was not used at all. This is clear in the record. I am expected to submit my own written opinion by May 16.
April 18, 2002 (Thursday)
I glanced through the various magazines, books, pamphlets, and Christian-related booklets and newspapers that Maria brought be yesterday. She also gave me pictures from the Kansai Bloc Meeting, that was held on March 10. It was my first chance to see a picture of Mr. M, from the Imaichi Church. He looks just like a priest. I want to thank Ms. S, the manager of the coffee shop, for the pictures and for good food for the participants. I want to thank everybody who participated in the meeting, from the bottom of my heart.
April 21, 2002 (Sunday)
Today, a meeting is scheduled of the Nagasaki Working Group of my Support Group's Kyushu Bloc. I have prayed that many people attend and that it be a fruitful meeting. When people say, "eliminating the death penalty will be difficult," I really hope they don't use "difficult" in negative expressions such as "it can't be done," "it's a thankless task," "I don't want to get involved," or "nothing can be done even if we think about it." I like the more constructive expressions, such as, "it may be difficult, but let's do it.
April 22, 2002 (Monday)
At about 2 p.m., my younger brother came to visit for the first time in a long while. Ms. S and Mr. Y, from Kobe, came along with him as far as the prison gate. It's unfortunate that I wasn't able to meet them, due to the irrational rules of the authorities that prevent death row inmates from receiving visitors outside of their family. But I was greatly encouraged by the fact that they came all the way to the prison. It was a very kind act. I talked with my brother about our health, and about the lawyers.
April 24, 2002 (Wednesday)
At just after 10 a.m., Maria came to visit. She told me that my second son, who lives in Yokohama, changed jobs on April 1. I thought it was great that he was invited to return to the company where he first did his training.
At about 2:30 p.m., Father M came to visit me. He was originally planning to come on April 26 to give me Easter Mass, but he had to change the date. In exchange, he said he would come on May 24, the anniversary of my baptism, to give me mass. I am very much looking forward to it.
May 3, 2002 (Friday)
It's right in the middle of "Golden Week". The prison will also be on a 4-day holiday starting today. This means I won't be able to take a step out of my cell, and will not be able to have any communication or exchange anything with the outside world. It will be, literally, like being confined in a can. I have lots to do, however -- reading, writing, investigating, praying, contemplating, meditating, among other things -- and I won't be bored. It will actually allow me to get lots of things done. However, the inhumane treatment of the authorities of closing us in this space as small as two "tatami" [see note] without doing anything, is very stressful.
Note. equivalent to 3.24 square meters.
May 7, 2002 (Tuesday)
This morning, I sent my attorney, Mr. N, a copy of my second written opinion (request for a new trial) to submit to the 7th criminal affairs division of the Osaka District Court. With regard to the new evidence that I submitted, the prosecutor said, "It was already used in the original trial and consequently is not new evidence." However, looking through the proceedings, it is clear that the evidence that I submitted was not investigated either in the original trial (first trial), second trial, or at the Supreme Court. It is therefore clear that it constitutes new evidence. I submitted my written opinion to this regard. At just after 10, Maria came to visit. She is not the type who just starts talking, so I have to ask her questions and she gives me minimal answers. Because of this, it's difficult for me to know what's going on outside.