/jp/ - Otaku Culture

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan has executed two convicted murderers, bringing the number of hangings this year to 15.

The deaths Tuesday marked the continuation of a stepped-up pace of hangings in Japan in recent years amid rising concerns over crime and widespread public acceptance of capital punishment. Japan executed nine inmates in 2007.

Justice Minister Eisuke Mori said the two hanged on Tuesday were Michitoshi Kuma and Masahiro Takashio.

Kuma kidnapped two 7-year-old girls in February 1992 and strangled them. Takashio was convicted of stabbing two women to death in March 2004.

The hangings were the first since three inmates were executed in mid-September.

Japan has increased the pace of hangings in recent years. The executions are not announced beforehand and are carried out in secret.

The stepped-up pace of executions has brought strong protests from advocacy groups such as Amnesty International.

There are about 100 people on death row in Japan

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/27/japan.executions.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText

>In a country with a conviction rate of over 99%—and where even defence lawyers urge clients to plead guilty

http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10854797