JAPAN: CAPITAL PUNISHMENT DETERS HEINOUS CRIMES: MACHIMURA

capital punishment is one way to deter people from committing heinous crimes, Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura. Machimura made the comment in response to a query at a press conference on whether he thinks the execution of death row inmates, which totals 10 under Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama, goes against international calls for a moratorium on executions. ''This is not something we can decide on based only on international trends,'' Machimura said, adding it is up to each country to decide on its capital punishment system based on domestic circumstances. Touching on the recent increase in the handing down of death sentences in judicial courts, Machimura said, ''Atrocious crimes are increasing to a great extent and I believe the death penalty has the implication of serving as a kind of deterrent.''