Japan executes two murderers, including teen killer on death-row since 1992
Opponents say Japan’s system is cruel because inmates are only told of their impending execution a few hours ahead of time
Japan Tuesday executed two convicted murderers, including one who committed his crime while in his teens, the justice ministry said, ignoring calls from international rights groups to end capital punishment.
The hangings of Teruhiko Seki and Kiyoshi Matsui bring to 21 the total number of executions since conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe came to power in late 2012.
Seki, 44, was convicted of killing four people in Chiba, southeast of Tokyo, in 1992 when he was 19, the ministry said.
It was the first execution of a death-row prisoner who committed crimes as a minor since 1997 in Japan, local media said.
Watch: a peek inside Japan’s gallows
People are considered adults at the age of 20 in Japan.