Ugh. What a horrible story. It was interesting learning so much about the Japanese legal system in your article, especially how the prosecution can keep appealing the original sentence. (Apparently, the defense can as well but, judging by the final sentence in 2008, there is a limit). I read book written by a man who went to Japanese court every day for a year and then wrote about it and another difference he talked about was that, given that over 95% of defendants are found guity, the expression of remorse becomes a key factor in getting a reduced sentence.