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Japan execution chamber opening could spark debate
But she took the unusual step of attending the hangings, and then said she would open up the gallows in Tokyo to media and set up a group within the ministry to study the death penalty.
Information on the execution process is scarce in Japan, which along with the United States is one of only two Group of Eight rich countries that retain capital punishment.
Japan currently has 107 people on death row.
Supporters and opponents of capital punishment agree it is unlikely to be abolished in Japan in the near future, but activists hope to use the momentum generated by opening up the gallows to cast a spotlight on the issue.
“The key is what type of debate could take place in the Japanese society after the opening of the execution chamber, including the role of the media and myself,” said Nobuto Hosaka, a former lawmaker and an activist against death penalty.
Experts say inmates are notified of the timing of their execution only on the morning it is carried out, usually about an hour beforehand, and families are not given an advance warning.
Once the execution takes place, the Justice Ministry releases the name and crimes of the inmate.
“The death penalty is scary because we don’t know much about it,” said Tomohiro Umino, a 31-year-old engineer.
“I say that I support death penalty but it is based on limited information. But my decision could change if more information becomes available,” he said.
While opening the gallows to the media could prompt more public awareness, some critics of the death penalty doubt it will bring about major change.
“This could be thought as a step forward, but as Amnesty we think this is absolutely not enough in terms of publicizing information,” said Osamu Amano of Amnesty International Japan.
“The situation is hidden behind a thick veil of secrecy,” he said, adding that information such as health conditions of inmates should be accessible to third parties.
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