Regarding the Oct. 11 article "Court acquits man but kept lid on forced confession": It is good that Hiroshi Yanagihara finally was acquitted of rape charges five years after his conviction. Yet, an apology from the judge seems way too little in return for the years Yanagihara lost in the process. It also does not seem meaningful to videotape investigations, given how easily recordings can be manipulated. I have heard that investigators are rewarded for confessions they get. As one way to limit the miscarriage of justice, it would be fair if investigators and judges were equally held economically responsible for forced confessions. In Yanagihara's case, he ought to be given compensation for lost income of ¥10 million for each year between the first and the final trial, plus compensation for other loses incurred by his imprisonment.
