On November 28, a court in Oita found a man guilty of dangerous driving that resulted in a fatal accident, sentencing him to eight years in prison. This decision followed a lay judge trial that substituted the previous charge against the defendant, who was 23 years old, for negligent driving which typically leads to a maximum penalty of seven years.

The incident took place on February 9, 2021, when the defendant, then 19, was driving at an alarming speed of 194 kilometers per hour in a zone where the limit was only 60 kilometers per hour. He collided with a passenger vehicle driven by 50-year-old Ken Koyanagi, who tragically died from severe physical trauma and blood loss. In response to the lesser charge of negligent driving, the victim's family gathered over 28,000 signatures petitioning for the more serious charge of dangerous driving, which carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years.

During the trial, the prosecution argued for a 12-year sentence, emphasizing that the defendant's excessive speed made it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. They highlighted that a minor error at such high speeds could easily lead to a catastrophic accident. In contrast, the defense contended that the accident did not occur due to any loss of control but instead argued that the accident scene was straight and well-paved, suggesting the driver was capable of maintaining the vehicle's path without mishandling it. The defense insisted that the charge should remain as negligent driving rather than escalate to dangerous driving.

The prosecution also posited that the defendant displayed intent to obstruct others by driving at a dangerously high speed. However, the defense countered that this classification aimed to punish behaviors related to distracted driving, and asserted that the defendant did not intend to create a situation that could jeopardize others on the road.