Japan executes three convicted killers

At a news conference in Tokyo, Japan's Justice Minister announces the execution of three convicted multiple killers.

They were the first executions in Japan in almost two years.

The Justice Minister said that the death penalty is supported by the Japanese people.

(SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) JAPANESE JUSTICE MINISTER TOSHIO OGAWA SAYING:

"I believe that the sort of penalty used against crimes is something that the people of the country decide. In other words, the right of punishment is in the hands of the people."

Japanese media reported that one of the hanged men killed five people at a train station in western Japan in 1999.

Executions take place in chambers such as this one in Tokyo.

There are currently 132 inmates on death row in Japan, including 13 members of the doomsday cult which staged deadly gas attacks on the Tokyo subway in 1995.

Nick Rowlands, Reuters.