The Justice Ministry executed three death-row inmates Friday and, in a break with its secrecy policy, released their names and details directly to the public.
Seiha Fujima, 47, Hiroki Fukawa, 42, and Noboru Ikemoto, 74, were hanged early Friday, the ministry said. Fujima and Fukawa were executed at the Tokyo Detention House and Ikemoto at the Osaka Detention House.
The first executions authorized by Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama reduced the number of inmates on death row to 104. His predecessor, Jinen Nagase, approved 10 executions during an 11-month stint, including last Christmas Day.