The government on Friday approved granting pardons to roughly 550,000 petty criminals in light of Emperor Naruhito¡¯s enthronement ceremony next Tuesday.
The Justice Ministry said the pardons, the first since 1993, will be granted on the premise that the emperor¡¯s enthronement is ¡°an opportunity for the citizens of Japan to cleanse their spirit and start anew.¡±
¡°Such decisions, however, need to be made with consideration of crime victims and their families,¡± a clemency official said, explaining why those who committed grievous crimes will not receive the pardons.
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