Japan's Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka

JAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER HIRAOKA CALLS FOR NATIONAL DEBATE ON DEATH PENALTY

September 13, 2011: Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka stressed the need for a national debate on whether Japan should maintain the death penalty. “I would like to consider establishing an institution to take on national deliberations and proposals” related to capital punishment, Hiraoka told reporters.
The establishment of a study panel in the Diet or in the Justice Ministry, open to public participation, is among possible options, he said. (Sources: Mainichi Japan, 14/09/2011)