Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka said it is regrettable that Japan resumed executing death-row inmates in March without holding sufficient debate following a 20-month hiatus.
"I regret that executions took place last month without being examined or discussed . . . regarding the way in which the death penalty is enforced and death-row inmates are treated in Japan," said Hiraoka, who was justice minister for four months until January, told a symposium last week hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Japan and the EU Institute in Japan at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Three death-row inmates were hanged March 29 by order of his successor and current Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa. They were the first executions since July 2010, when then Justice Minister Keiko Chiba approved two hangings.