Japan executes man convicted in 2009 deadly arson attack

Japan carried out an execution on August 21, putting to death a man convicted of a deadly arson attack on a pachinko parlor in 2009. This marks the first execution in the country since July 2025, when Takahiro Shiraishi, known as the "Twitter killer" for murdering nine people, was hanged.

The executed individual, identified as Sunao Takami, was found guilty of dousing a pachinko parlor in Osaka with petrol and setting it ablaze. The attack resulted in the deaths of four customers and one employee. The Justice Ministry has declined to comment on the specific case.

Capital punishment remains a contentious issue in Japan, where it is still practiced alongside the United States as the only G-7 nations to retain the death penalty. Public support for the practice is reportedly strong within Japan. However, the system faces widespread criticism, particularly regarding the notification process for death row inmates, who are often informed of their impending execution only on the morning of their final day.

Official figures indicate a fluctuating number of executions in recent years. The Justice Ministry reported one execution in 2022, three in 2021, three in 2019, and a higher number of 15 in 2018.