Japanese Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi announces Friday in a Tokyo press conference that the death sentence of death-row inmate Sunao Takami had been carried out. Sunao Takami, a 58-year-old death-row inmate who was convicted of killing five people in an arson attack at a pachinko parlor in Osaka in 2009. Photo Jiji Press/EPA
Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Japan early Friday executed a 58-year-old man convicted of killing five people in a fire he ignited at a pachinko parlor in Osaka 17 years ago, the first death-row inmate to be put to death by the ultra-conservative administration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Sunao Takami was hanged to death early Friday, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraghuchi told reporters at a press conference, Jiji Tsushinsha news agency reported.
"I ordered the execution after a very careful consideration."
Hiraghuchi signed the execution order Tuesday.
