07 December 2007 :

Japan hanged three convicted murderers in the country's first executions in more than three months, but in one concession to critics it disclosed executed inmates'names for the first time.
The hangings bring to nine the number of executions this year in Japan.
"We decided to release a bit more information. I made the decision," said Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama, who signed off on his first executions since assuming the post in August.
The inmates were Noboru Ikemoto, 75, who was hanged in the western metropolis of Osaka, and Seiha Fujima, 47, and Hiroki Fukawa, 42, who were executed in Tokyo, a justice ministry statement said.