Japan to Open Execution Chambers to Local Media for First Time Next Week

[FG Lurker]

Japan to Open Execution Chambers to Local Media for First Time Next Week
Bloomberg, August 21, 2010

Japan will open its death chambers to local media for the first time next week, a month after two inmates were executed with the justice minister in attendance.

The media may only get a "sanitized" view of the Tokyo Detention Center, where hangings take place, Nobuto Hosaka, a former lawmaker and former secretary general of the Diet's League for the Abolition of the Death Penalty, said in a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. Foreign media and freelance journalists may be denied access, he said.

(Full Story)

No idea what caused this sudden change of heart, as far as I know almost no one has seen Japan's execution chambers. Anyone know what prompted this?

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

Don't know what prompted it, but I'd prefer if they make them public. I saw a public beheading in Saudi Arabia about 20 years ago and it still chills me to the bones. Mind you, hanging isn't as much fun as the huge dude with an ax coming out and lopping some punter's noggin off.

[Coligny]

Japan to Open Execution Chambers to Local Media for First Time Next Week
Bloomberg, August 21, 2010

No idea what caused this sudden change of heart, as far as I know almost no one has seen Japan's execution chambers. Anyone know what prompted this?

The bloke in charge seems to be anti death penalty... And also seems to have quite some balls for a politician...

[Kanchou]

Don't know what prompted it, but I'd prefer if they make them public. I saw a public beheading in Saudi Arabia about 20 years ago and it still chills me to the bones. Mind you, hanging isn't as much fun as the huge dude with an ax coming out and lopping some punter's noggin off.

Doesn't sound as disturbing as Chinese executions... they do it publicly, dozens at a time, by means of AK47 to the back of the head (administered by regular soldiers). They cross the person's name out their name tags before the execution just to drive the point across.

[Mock Cockpit]

... And also seems to have quite some balls for a politician...

A lot of people in the execution chamber are well hung.

[Kanchou]

Asphyxiation causes erections.

[Coligny]

Asphyxiation causes erections.

Yeah, did you see that movie too ? English title was "crazy lips" with Satomi Kurahashi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274541/). The necrophiliac rape scene after they hang the cop was absolutely awesome...

[IparryU]

Yeah, did you see that movie too ? English title was "crazy lips" with Satomi Kurahashi (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274541/). The necrophiliac rape scene after they hang the cop was absolutely awesome...

how the F do you find out about these movies?!?!?!?!?!?!

(i wanna see too)

[Ganma]

Interesting article on this subject here:

[SIZE="3"]Ending the secret life of the death penalty[/SIZE]The new lay judge system in Japan will force many citizens to think more deeply about capital punishment than ever before

By DAVID T. JOHNSON
Special to The Japan Times
Japan's former Justice Minister Keiko Chiba surprised many people when she ordered the hanging of two convicted killers at the end of July.



For one thing, Chiba is a death penalty abolitionist who, prior to becoming justice minister in September 2009, spoke openly and often about Japan's need to ban a punishment that has been abandoned in law or practice by 70 percent of the nations in the world. For another, Chiba observed these executions, making her the first justice minister to watch the state killings that only this official can authorize.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Chiba observed these executions, making her the first justice minister to watch the state killings that only this official can authorize.

Wow. If you're going to order people executed, you should be required to watch. I can't believe she's the first ever.