Justice Minister Keiko Chiba, who will probably be replaced next month because she lost her Diet seat in the July 11 Upper House election, allowed journalists for the first time Friday to enter the Tokyo Detention House's execution chamber.

Chiba, who has long been opposed to the death penalty, has taken various measures to promote public discussion on capital punishment by making it transparent, while like many other justice ministers she fulfilled her duty of signing off on two hangings on July 27.

Debate on capital punishment is expected to intensify as the government releases more information. One aspect that has long caused controversy is the fact that inmates are kept in the dark about their fateful day until it arrives.