27 death sentences issued in Japan in 2008, down from 46 in 2007

TOKYO, Dec. 28 Kyodo -
District, high and supreme courts across Japan issued 27 death sentences in
2008, down from 46 the previous year, according to a Kyodo News tally as of
Sunday.
A total of 100 prisoners are currently on death row after the finalization of
their sentences.
The death sentences of 10 inmates were finalized this year, compared with 23
last year.
Fifteen death row inmates were executed on five occasions this year, the first
time since 1976 that the number has topped 10.
The number of executed death row inmates stood at 12 in 1976 but dropped to one
to four in subsequent years. There were no executions from 1990 to 1992.
From 1993, the number of executed inmates stood at one to seven until last year
when nine inmates were executed.
Earlier in December, the U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for
a moratorium on the death penalty.
==Kyodo