Government ministers were split Sunday over whether Japan should incorporate a new system under which suspects with psychiatric problems would receive hospital treatment at the advice of courts.
On a television program, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said she favored establishing such a system, while the health minister disagreed due to the very small number of potential inpatients.
Moriyama said, "Of course, we should study it in the near future." But Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Chikara Sakaguchi, also speaking on the NHK TV show, voiced reluctance about the plan.