Japan hangs 73-year-old man convicted of murder in the country's 6th execution of the year

Published January 13, 2015

Japan has hanged a 73-year-old man convicted of murder and robbery, the country's sixth execution of the year.

The Justice Ministry says the hanging was carried out Thursday in Tokyo. The man had shot to death a restaurant owner in 2004, stealing his bag containing 400,000 yen ($4,000) in cash.

Japan executed three inmates in February and two in April. There are 132 inmates currently on death row.

All executions in Japan are done by hanging.

Human rights groups have widely criticized Japan for continuing capital punishment, but polls show the public supports the system.

Japan's government releases few details about executions, and inmates are not informed of their pending execution until immediately before it is carried out.

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