Executions in Japan -- 2006 - 2008

Japan has executed 28 people since December 2006. All were hanged for crimes including murder.

Justice minister Mori Eisuke
+ Appointed minister 24 September 2008
+ Approved 2 executions (to end 2008)

28 October 2008
Michitoshi Kuma, 70 (Fukuoka)
Masahiro Takashio, 55 (Sendai)

Justice minister Okiharu Yasuoka
+ Minister from August -- September 2008
+ Approved 3 executions
+ Approved 3 further executions when he served as justice minister from July -- December 2000

11 September 2008
Yoshiyuki Mantani, 68 (Osaka)
Mineteru Yamamoto, 68 (Osaka)
Isamu Hirano, 61 (Tokyo)

Justice minister Kunio Hatoyama
+ 27 August 2007 -- August 2008
+ Approved 13 executions

17 June 2008
Tsutomu Miyazaki, 45 (Tokyo)
Shinji Mutsuda, 37 (Tokyo)
Yoshio Yamasaki, 73 (Osaka)

10 April 2008
Masahito Sakamoto, 41 (Tokyo)
Kaoru Okashita, 61 (Tokyo)
Katsuyoshi Nakamoto, 64 (Osaka)
Masaharu Nakamura, 61 (Osaka)

1 February 2008
Masahiko Matsubara, 63 (Osaka)
Takashi Mochida, 65 (Tokyo)
Keishi Nago, 37 (Fukuoka)

7 December 2007
Seiha Fujima, 47 (Tokyo)
Hiroki Fukawa, 42 (Tokyo)
Noboru Ikemoto, 75 (Osaka)

Justice minister Jinen Nagase
+ Minister from 26 September 2006 -- August 2007
+ Approved 10 executions

23 August, 2007
Hifumi Takezawa, 69 (Tokyo)
Yoshio Iwamoto, 63 (Tokyo)
Kozo Segawa, 60 (Nagoya)

27 April 2007
Kosaku Nata, 56 (Osaka)
Yoshikatsu Oda, 59 (Fukuoka)
Masahiro Tanaka (also Miyashita), 42 (Tokyo)

25 December 2006
Yoshimitsu Akiyama, 77 (Tokyo)
Hiroaki Hidaka, 44 (Hiroshima)
Yoshio Fujinami, 75 (Tokyo)
Michio Fukuoka, 64 (Osaka)

Seiken Sugiura, who was justice minister from October 2005 -- September 2005, approved no executions as a result of his Buddhist religious beliefs.

The last execution prior to his appointment was reported to have been on 16 September 2005.

Related stories:
Japan: Record toll with new hangings -- 28 October 2008
Japan: New minister sends three to death -- 12 September 2008