Too light sentence: family of teenager killed in Asahikawa reacts to 27-year prison sentence
The Asahikawa District Court announced the sentence of 27 years in prison for Riko Uchida, aged 23, this Monday, June 22, 2026. She was accused of murder and other crimes, for having pushed a high school student from a bridge in the same city, a decision that met the prosecutor’s request.
Turmoil in the court and the family’s statement after the decision
The announcement of the verdict sparked an incident in the courtroom, with one man loudly uttering phrases such as “You should get the death penalty!” and “You won’t get what you deserve!”, which led to the interruption of the session and his subsequent arrest. After the 27-year sentence for Uchida was confirmed, the deceased young woman’s family released an official statement.
The victim’s family expressed disbelief at the “lenient” sentence, considering the brutality and unimaginable pain that the young woman suffered until her death. They argued that, given the use of around 100,000 yen of their daughter’s PayPal balance before the murder, the charge should have included robbery, characterizing the crime as robbery. The parents regret that their 17-year-old daughter had her life and dreams taken away, while Riko Uchida, supported by legislation, will be able to return to freedom after a maximum of 27 years and rebuild her life.
The teenager’s father expressed deep shame when imagining how he would report the outcome to his daughter. Approximately two years have passed since the crime, the family continues to face a period of grief and suffering that, according to him, will never heal. Despite the pain, the family recognizes the sovereignty of the rule of law and, therefore, does not seek to inflict the same suffering on the defendant, but asks the court to reflect on the prospect of a similar situation in their own lives, applying a sanction that truly echoes the feelings of those affected.
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Call for changes to Japan’s criminal law
Japanese legislation establishes that the maximum sentence for Uchida’s case is 27 years, with any higher sentence resulting in life imprisonment. Family members defend, without hesitation, the application of life imprisonment or an even more severe sentence. They note that even if life imprisonment is not imposed for “balance of sentences” reasons, the disparity between the maximum sentence and life sentence is excessive. In view of this, they request a review of the law to increase the maximum penalty in cases of homicide, ensuring a more appropriate punishment.
The father ended his statement with the hope that atrocities like the one suffered by his daughter and experienced by his family will not be repeated in the future. He took the opportunity to deeply thank the police for their commitment to investigations, the support and seriousness of prosecutors and lawyers, the work of journalists in the search for the truth, and the solidarity of everyone who sent condolences and flowers.
