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Chris Payne is a US citizen who has been in Japan since 2013. He was falsely convicted of attacking a woman in Chiba in July 2018 and has been held in solitary confinement for 4.5 years. The whole crux of the investigation falls on a manipulated DNA analysis, but meanwhile, Chris has never matched the description of the attacker, and his alibi was never properly investigated. The Tokyo High Court overturned his conviction in December 2025, but Chris still remains in solitary confinement in the detention center where he is being held until a retrial is scheduled in Chiba, and his requests for bail have been denied at least 11 times. His case is a stark example of Japan’s system of “hostage justice” where the suspect is guilty until proven innocent, and all-powerful prosecutors hold all the cards. Please note: we do not place the blame on the victim, and neither does Chris. He is unfortunately being made a scapegoat while the real attacker is still out there, possibly hurting more people in the meantime. HOW TO SUPPORT CHRIS - sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-due-process-for-christopher-payne-in-japanAND SPREAD THE WORD! Contact your representatives in the US and Japan to put pressure on the courts. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:人質司法 hito jichi shiho - hostage justice事件 - jiken - incident矛盾 mujun - contradiction, inconsistency 刑務所 keimusho - prison拘置所 kouchisho - detention center References/sources:Innocence Project Japan: https://innocenceprojectjapan.org/en/chris-caseGavin Blair article: https://www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shimbun-article/miscarriage-justiceFCCJ conference from March 2026: https://www.youtube.com/live/9eB2cMUmh7g?si=-hvv1x3gPmin_j0XCBS Chicago story: https://youtu.be/Frd9N4DzvOcThe petition - PLEASE SIGN: https://www.change.org/p/demand-due-process-for-christopher-payne-in-japanKeiko Aoki:https://forejustice.org/db/Aoki--Keiko-.htmlhttps://www.nichibenren.or.jp/en/document/statements/160810.htmlhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14573661Shoji Maekawa: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15914748https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/29/japan/crime-legal/acquitted-man-seeks-state-compensation/#:~:text=Get%20full%20access%20for%2090%25Time stamps00:00 hi/disclaimer/who is Chris?03:25 the attack, the arrest, inconclusive DNA11:25 the conviction12:27 DNA problems, overturned conviction14:41 health issues15:43 call with advocacy team members1:03:49 media coverage1:05:29 hostage justice & powerful prosecutors1:12:35 three recent exonerations1:20:26 conclusion