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A World War II era bomb that lay buried unexploded beneath a Japanese airport blew up Wednesday (Oct 2), damaging the taxiway and causing flight cancellations. Land and Transport Ministry officials said the incident at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan caused no injuries but led to the cancellation of 87 flights.

The airport was used as a base of Japanese ‘Kamikaze’ pilots during the World War 2. 
 
The explosion created a crater seven metres (23 feet) wide and one metre (3.2 feet) deep in the middle of the taxiway. Officials said the explosion was caused by a World War II US bomb that remained buried all these years.

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Miyazaki Airport in Japan was temporarily closed after an unexploded American Bomb from World War II was detonated near its runway, creating a crater 7 Meters. <a href="https://t.co/cpEBGlxhgd">pic.twitter.com/cpEBGlxhgd</a>
— Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) <a href="https://twitter.com/Xx17965797N/status/1841472147354477026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2024</a></blockquote>
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CCTV footage showed an aeroplane was just 100 metres away from the explosion site. A bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was rushed to the scene following the explosion. As per media reports, the airport will resume operations Thursday morning, once the crater is filled and necessary repairs to the taxiway are carried out.

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Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there was no threat of a second explosion.

"There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene," Hayashi said.

<h2>More about the airport</h2>

Miyazaki Airport served as a base for Japanese kamikaze jets from 1943 till the war ended.

That explains why it became a prime military target for US bombers during the WW2 era. So far, several unexploded US bombs have been recovered from the site.

Even after 79 years of the end of the war, discovery of unexploded bombs across Japan is not uncommon. According to Japan’s SDF, a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes were disposed of during fiscal year 2023.

(With inputs from agencies)

A World War II era bomb that lay buried unexploded beneath a Japanese airport blew up Wednesday (Oct 2), damaging the taxiway and causing flight cancellations. Land and Transport Ministry officials said the incident at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan caused no injuries but led to the cancellation of 87 flights.

A World War II era bomb that lay buried unexploded beneath a Japanese airport blew up Wednesday (Oct 2), damaging the taxiway and causing flight cancellations. Land and Transport Ministry officials said the incident at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan caused no injuries but led to the cancellation of 87 flights. The airport was used as a base of Japanese ‘Kamikaze’ pilots during the World War 2. The explosion created a crater seven metres (23 feet) wide and one metre (3.2 feet) deep in the middle of the taxiway. Officials said the explosion was caused by a World War II US bomb that remained buried all these years. Miyazaki Airport in Japan was temporarily closed after an unexploded American Bomb from World War II was detonated near its runway, creating a crater 7 Meters. pic.twitter.com/cpEBGlxhgd — Truthseeker (@Xx17965797N) October 2, 2024 × CCTV footage showed an aeroplane was just 100 metres away from the explosion site. A bomb disposal team from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was rushed to the scene following the explosion. As per media reports, the airport will resume operations Thursday morning, once the crater is filled and necessary repairs to the taxiway are carried out. Also read: Only 13 female CEOs among top 1,600 companies in Japan, reveals survey Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said there was no threat of a second explosion. "There is no threat of a second explosion, and police and firefighters are currently examining the scene," Hayashi said. More about the airport Miyazaki Airport served as a base for Japanese kamikaze jets from 1943 till the war ended. That explains why it became a prime military target for US bombers during the WW2 era. So far, several unexploded US bombs have been recovered from the site. Even after 79 years of the end of the war, discovery of unexploded bombs across Japan is not uncommon. According to Japan’s SDF, a total of 2,348 bombs weighing 37.5 tonnes were disposed of during fiscal year 2023. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: WW2 era US bomb explodes at Japan airport, creates huge crater on taxiway

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A court in Japan on Thursday (Sep 26) acquitted Iwao Hakamata, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, half a century after he was arrested and sentenced to death on the basis of some 'blood-stained cloths' found near the site of the quadruple murders.

Hakamata was sentenced to death over the killings of a senior manager, the manager's wife and two children at the miso factory where he worked. Miso is a local food seasoning of Japan.

The victims were found stabbed to death in 1966 in their house that had been burnt down.&nbsp;Hakamata was arrested in the same year, and his death sentence was finalised in 1980.

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The Shizuoka District Court on Thursday said the investigators had fabricated evidence, at the end of the retrial that captured the imagination of the Japanese people.&nbsp;

The 88-year-old former professional boxer spent nearly five decades as a death row inmate. He was released from prison in 2014 following new evidence. The retrial began in October 2023.

"There were three instances of fabrication of evidence" including five pieces of clothing that Hakamata was alleged to have worn during the incident and his confession, Kyodo news agency quoted the court as saying.&nbsp;

The court also said his confession was forced "by inflicting physical and mental pain," describing his questioning as "inhumane."

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The bloodstained cloths, used as evidence against Hakamata, were found in a miso tank near the site of the murders 14 months later.&nbsp;

The defence team said the colour of blood could not remain red in the tank&nbsp;for such a long time. The court agreed to this argument.

In 2023 March, the Tokyo High Court had ordered the retrial, citing the strong possibility of&nbsp;investigators planting the five pieces of clothing.

The high court in 2018 had initially decided not to reopen the case. But&nbsp;the Supreme Court in 2020 ordered it to re-examine its ruling, Kyodo news agency reported.

Hakamada,&nbsp;who maintained his innocence throughout all these years, was helped by his elder sister, Hakamada Hideko.

Hideko, who was 33 at the time of his arrest, was a firm supporter of her brother, appearing in court to support him for all these five decades.

Iwao wrote to his family from prison every day, NHK said in a report.&nbsp; "I am not the culprit. I am screaming every day," he wrote to his mother in 1967, a year after his arrest.

(With inputs from agencies)

A court in Japan on Thursday (Sep 26) acquitted Iwao Hakamata, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, half a century after he was arrested and sentenced to death on the basis of some 'blood-stained cloths' found near the site of the quadruple murders.

A court in Japan on Thursday (Sep 26) acquitted Iwao Hakamata, the world's longest-serving death row inmate, half a century after he was arrested and sentenced to death on the basis of some 'blood-stained cloths' found near the site of the quadruple murders. Hakamata was sentenced to death over the killings of a senior manager, the manager's wife and two children at the miso factory where he worked. Miso is a local food seasoning of Japan. The victims were found stabbed to death in 1966 in their house that had been burnt down. Hakamata was arrested in the same year, and his death sentence was finalised in 1980. Also read: Japan could get its first female Prime Minister on Friday after ‘toss-up’ vote The Shizuoka District Court on Thursday said the investigators had fabricated evidence, at the end of the retrial that captured the imagination of the Japanese people. The 88-year-old former professional boxer spent nearly five decades as a death row inmate. He was released from prison in 2014 following new evidence. The retrial began in October 2023. "There were three instances of fabrication of evidence" including five pieces of clothing that Hakamata was alleged to have worn during the incident and his confession, Kyodo news agency quoted the court as saying. The court also said his confession was forced "by inflicting physical and mental pain," describing his questioning as "inhumane." Also read: India rises in Asia Power Index, clinches third spot after surpassing Japan The bloodstained cloths, used as evidence against Hakamata, were found in a miso tank near the site of the murders 14 months later. The defence team said the colour of blood could not remain red in the tank for such a long time. The court agreed to this argument. In 2023 March, the Tokyo High Court had ordered the retrial, citing the strong possibility of investigators planting the five pieces of clothing. The high court in 2018 had initially decided not to reopen the case. But the Supreme Court in 2020 ordered it to re-examine its ruling, Kyodo news agency reported. Hakamada, who maintained his innocence throughout all these years, was helped by his elder sister, Hakamada Hideko. Hideko, who was 33 at the time of his arrest, was a firm supporter of her brother, appearing in court to support him for all these five decades. Iwao wrote to his family from prison every day, NHK said in a report. "I am not the culprit. I am screaming every day," he wrote to his mother in 1967, a year after his arrest. (With inputs from agencies)

Iwao Hakamata: World's longest-serving death row inmate declared innocent 50 years after 4 murders

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