HANDS OFF CAIN CRITICISES JAPANESE JUSTICE MINISTER

Hands Off Cain criticised Japanese Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama in its annual report, describing him as an ''outspoken supporter of the death penalty'' who broke taboos maintained in Japan over executions. Hands Off Cain said Hatoyama, who took office in August 2007, ''is trying to reduce the number of prisoners on death row.'' Under him, Japan has executed 13 people, reducing the number of death-row inmates to 102. The Rome-based group said in the report on executions around the world in 2007 that ''the principles and taboos that Japan maintained with regard to capital punishment are being systematically broken down,'' in reference to the conventions of not publicizing the executions and not carrying them out while the Diet is in session.