More Specific Focus on Japan

Many of the large issues that are currently talked about in Japan have to do with their relations with other countries and what it means for Japan. Just recently, the country lost its rank as the second largest economy in the world to China, and is now in the place of the third largest economy in the world. This is because the economy in China is obviously growing larger, but also because the economy in Japan is being hurt by the economic recession in the United States. Japan is worried about deflation, as their yen value increases and the overseas markets slow down. Because Japan has very little natural resources, they are one of the world largest importers of goods. With overseas markets heading downhill, Japan’s importations are affected and so is their economy. To counter this, the Japanese are considering passing a Stimulus program although there are many economists who are advising against it.
In more recent news, the Japanese have just revealed what their execution chambers look like to the public. Of the industrialized nations, only Japan and the United States currently have capital punishment, and the Japanese are generally in support of it. The United Nations have tried to sway Japan into dropping their capital punishments because of “the large number of crimes that entail the death sentence, the lack of pardoning, the solitary confinement of inmates, and executions at advanced ages and despite signs of mental illness.” Some also claim that some on death row might be innocent. Japan has a 99 percent conviction rate, and is assumed to be because of the “widespread use of forced confessions.” People who believe this use the case of Toshikazu Sugaya, who was convicted of the murder of a 4 year old and had served 17 years until he was recently found innocent, as their defense.
Some more interesting facts about Japan’s capital punishment:
- Inmates on death row don’t know when they will be executed until late minute.
- All executions are carried out by hanging.
- The executions sites are kept in secret locations, so journalists have to arrive in a bus with closed curtains.
- Before the execution, inmates are allowed to read their last rites with either a Buddha, an altar of the Shinto religion, or a wooden cross for Christians.
- Sentences aren’t carried out on weekends, national holidays, and around New Year.