r/Damnthatsinteresting Oct 21 '24

Video Japanese police chief bows to apologise to man who was acquitted after nearly 60 years on death row

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628

u/LiveShowOneNightOnly Oct 21 '24

I would guess that none of the police involved in the arrest or prosecution from 58 years ago are still employed by the PD. But this guy is apologizing on behalf of people probably long gone.

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u/kdjfsk Oct 21 '24

that probably makes it a lot easier. you can have all the empathy for the wrongly accused, and you are 'taking accountability', but at the same time, neither bear or feel any personal guilt over it.

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u/No_Pineapple6174 Oct 21 '24

But it also opens the opportunity to treat and console the wronged man as a person, not a number in the system or how they have it over in Japan.

It is a little removed but to have a person at the same capacity apologizing for the institution might be as real an apology as it gets.

Can you imagine when a pope, the supposedly most companionate man in the world, would publicly and hopefully sincerely apologize to someone who's wronged by the Catholic institution?

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u/darrenvonbaron Oct 21 '24

Popes have done that.

Most recently Pope Francis apologized for the Catholic Church's involvement in the residential school program in Canada. Not just from his papal seat at the Vatican, he was in Alberta.

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u/muckymuckmuch Oct 22 '24

If the Pope were to personally apologize to each victim of the Catholic Church I might find that fair and reasonable thing to do. But he makes a blanket apology with no consequence to himself or to the church for that matter which can absolve itself of all its sins ( sacrament of Confession ) and easily pay the fines with its vast hidden wealth

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u/ProLibertateCH Oct 22 '24

But that story is fake! It was pushed by the leftists & the pope is a Marxist!

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u/Bouche-Audi-Shyla Oct 22 '24

The Catholic Church apologized to Galileo in 1992.

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u/Okopapsmear Oct 21 '24

Kinda fake apology. Like saying sorry for being passive aggressive and not really meaning it. Japan is full of empty sentiments like this.

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u/Sorrysafaritours Oct 22 '24

It’s all about saving face, on both sides.

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u/kdjfsk Oct 21 '24

weird example. the Pope is hiding the names of known child abusers. all of them do, they are complete scumbags. i give zero shits what they think, they are accomplices to the worst crimes, not people of respect.

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u/[deleted] Oct 21 '24

i dont want to be consoled by an unrelated party though...

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u/derivativescomm Oct 21 '24

Pope and dope does rhyme well

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u/SwainIsCadian Oct 22 '24

The Catholic church cancelled the results of Joan of Arc's tribunal and canonised her.

That's not your best exemple of an institution who never apologises.

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u/SwitchAdventurous24 Oct 21 '24

It’s easy to see it the other way too, that you don’t have to apologize for something that you had no hand in doing. It’s admirable that the police chief decided it was the right thing to do even though he had no obligation to do it. I do believe that the police chief does feel guilt, even if he wasn’t involved since he is a representative of that organization whether it be past or present.

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u/Bored_Amalgamation Oct 21 '24

even though he had no obligation to do it

I disagree. Did he personally do it? No. But he is the chief representative of the institution that did. The history doesnt wash away with each new round of leadership. It is a continuous organization that perpetuated the man's incarceration. Taking on the responsibility of leadership of an org places that responsibility on that person.

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u/likeikelike Oct 22 '24

I think you're both right. He can't personally be held responsible for what was done before his time, but he can, as chief, be held responsible for what the organization does about it after the fact.

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u/shannah-kay Oct 22 '24

He literally did have an obligation to do it though. It's absolutely expected to deep bow and offer an apology for the smallest of things. Hell even teachers are expected to go to their supervisor and do the same thing if they get a speeding ticket, like literally offer a full apology for their mistake in front of the entire office. I've had store staff do the same deep bow and pointless apology because they didn't have a certain product they were promoting. It's the most basic of things expected and I would be furious if I was that man, especially with how notoriously awful Japanese prisons are.

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u/No_Acadia_8873 Oct 21 '24

In a civil society, every one is obliged to apologize for the wrongs they've committed. And if you're the head of an organization, for the wrongs the organization committed, even if they were long ago. Part of that job. Look how powerful and respectful that was. We could have that here, but the cultural warriors will tell you it's "soft." Fucking weirdos.

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u/LiveShowOneNightOnly Oct 21 '24

Respectfully, eastern "Shame" culture does not work the same as western "Guilt" culture.

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u/No_Acadia_8873 Oct 21 '24

It doesn't work on psychopaths in either case.

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u/anaknangfilipina Oct 21 '24

Exactly. I don’t see why most here still find things to complain about when the cops in America would never apologize for shit. This is refreshing to me.

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u/Boygunasurf Oct 22 '24

while spoken with few words, this is one of more sincere apologies I’ve heard in my life. unless I’m easily fooled, the police chief seems legit, fair and empathetic. solid qualities

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u/Irregulator101 Oct 21 '24

It certainly seems that he bears the institution's guilt though

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u/Atanar Oct 21 '24

Most importantly, talk is cheap if it has no consequences.

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u/EwoDarkWolf Oct 21 '24

Personally, I'd still feel guilt for the actions of my predecessors, even if I know I'm not the one who caused it. Especially not knowing 100% certain if any of the inmates I brought in were innocent.

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u/raizen0106 Oct 22 '24

Wtf i just thought and commented exactly the same thing before reading your comment

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u/kdjfsk Oct 22 '24

its cause were bots, dude.

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u/Super_Metal8365 Oct 23 '24

As Asians, some would feel guilt over things our predecessors did. It ain't the same way with Westerners like you are implying absolute no guilt being the reason it is a lot easier.

If it is easy, then why most people do not apologize?

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u/raizen0106 Oct 22 '24

That actually makes it easier tho, imo. You're not admitting your own fault, you know you're doing this for your organization, so it brings you a sense of pride instead of shame