Lawmakers won approval Tuesday to inspect one of the country's execution chambers in an extremely rare glimpse into a secretive system long criticized by international human rights groups.
The small group of lawmakers from the Lower House Justice Committee will inspect the gallows at a prison in Tokyo, Justice Minister Mayumi Moriyama said at a news conference.
"We're respecting lawmakers' wishes to go," Moriyama said. "I'm sure everyone has their own opinions about the place -- this just demonstrates how important a place it is."