Shinji Mukai, a 42 year old Japanese man convicted...

Shinji Mukai, a 42 year old Japanese man convicted of murdering three people, including a mother and her child, was executed by hanging in what was Japan's first execution in a year.The Justice Ministry announced the hanging, but in keeping with protocol did not disclose the identity of the convict. It was local media to disclose the hanged man's name and the fact that the crime had been committed in 1985.
Human rights group Amnesty International said the execution was timed to avoid debate over capital punishment.
"We strongly protest the execution.
Today's execution, as in the past, was carried out when the parliament was adjourned.
We believe that it is to avoid questions from lawmakers," Amnesty said in a statement. The country's last hangings took place on September 18, 2002, when two convicts were put to death.