High court upholds life sentence for killer of lawmaker

High court upholds life sentence for killer of lawmaker

TOKYO, Japan - Natasha Ishii (L) and her daughter Tanya speak to reporters in Tokyo on June 30 after the Tokyo High Court rejected an appeal of a life prison sentence by Hakusui Ito, who was convicted of the October 2002 murder of her husband Koki Ishii, an opposition lawmaker.

(2)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

(2)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

TOKYO, Japan - Hakusui Ito, a right-wing extremist pleaded guilty at the Tokyo District Court on Jan. 21 to murdering Diet member Koki Ishii (in file photo) in front of the lawmaker's house in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward last October. Ito, 48, the leader of Shukojuku, meaning ''emperor protection corps,'' admitted the charges at the first hearing of his trial at the district court.

Centuries-old giant cherry tree lit up

Centuries-old giant cherry tree lit up

FUKUOKA, Japan - A giant cherry tree more than 400 years old is in full blossom in the village of Hakusui, Kumamoto Prefecture. The tree was lit up on the evening of April 16. It measures 22 meters in height and 6 meters in girth.

(2)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

(2)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

TOKYO, Japan - Hakusui Ito, a right-wing extremist pleaded guilty at the Tokyo District Court on Jan. 21 to murdering Diet member Koki Ishii (in file photo) in front of the lawmaker's house in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward last October. Ito, 48, the leader of Shukojuku, meaning ''emperor protection corps,'' admitted the charges at the first hearing of his trial at the district court. (Kyodo)

(1)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

(1)Rightist pleads guilty to murdering lawmaker Ishii

TOKYO, Japan - Hakusui Ito (in an undated photo provided by the Japanese Communist Party), a 48-year-old right-wing extremist, pleaded guilty at the Tokyo District Court on Jan. 21 to murdering Diet member Koki Ishii in front of the lawmaker's house in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward in October 2002. Ito reportedly told the police he killed Ishii because the lawmaker refused to help him with his rent. (Kyodo)

High court upholds life sentence for killer of lawmaker

High court upholds life sentence for killer of lawmaker

TOKYO, Japan - Natasha Ishii (L) and her daughter Tanya speak to reporters in Tokyo on June 30 after the Tokyo High Court rejected an appeal of a life prison sentence by Hakusui Ito, who was convicted of the October 2002 murder of her husband Koki Ishii, an opposition lawmaker. (Kyodo)