JAPAN. FOUR DEATH ROW INMATES EXECUTED

April 10, 2008: Japanese authorities hanged four convicted murderers in Tokyo and Osaka.
Those hanged were Kaoru Akinaga, 61, Masahito Sakamoto, 41, Masaharu Nakamura, 61, and Katsuyoshi Nakamoto, 64.
The round of executions was the third since December, when the Justice Ministry first started disclosing the identities of those hanged and details of their crimes. Japan has executed 10 criminals in the past four months under Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama, an outspoken supporter of the death penalty. Hatoyama, who took office last August, denied his ministry was purposely picking up the pace of hangings.
Three men were executed in December, and three more in February.
"I just carry out executions solemnly as justice minister in response to what the law requires," Hatoyama told reporters.
The number of executions in Japan has increased sharply in recent years. Four people were executed in 2006 and nine last year. So far this year, seven have been executed — far ahead of last year's pace. (Sources: Ap, Upi, 10/04/2008)