Japan hangs three, discloses names and crimes

By Isabel Reynolds

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan hanged three death row inmates on Friday and for the first time revealed names and details of the crimes in a change of policy aimed at bolstering public support for capital punishment.

The deaths bring the number to nine this year, the highest in 31 years, Kyodo news agency said.

In a system often criticised for secrecy, the Justice Ministry had previously announced only the number of people hanged, although domestic media would reveal their identities.

The three hanged on Friday included Seiha Fujima, 47, who killed a 16-year-old girl, her mother and a sister after the girl refused his romantic advances, the ministry said in a statement.

Hiroki Fukawa, 42, and Noboru Ikemoto, 74, were also convicted of multiple murders, the ministry said.

"It was decided that more information disclosure was needed in order to gain public support," a ministry official said.

Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama told a parliamentary panel he had sought the change.

Opinion polls show most Japanese favour capital punishment despite relatively low rates of crime, which a study published this week showed had fallen since 2002.