Justice Minister Okiharu Yasuoka kept his vow to largely follow the lead of his predecessor Kunio Hatoyama and recently ordered the execution of three death row inmates.

Yasuoka was recently installed as Justice Minister when outgoing Prime Minister, Yasuo Fukuda, reshuffled his cabinet on August 1st, 2008. He had previously served as Justice Minister under Prime Minister Mori (second cabinet) in 2000.

Prisoners executed:

1. Yoshiyuki Mantani, 68

2. Mineteru Yamamoto, 68

3. Isamu Hirano, 61

All three men were reportedly convicted on charges of robbery-murder. The three are technically Yasuoka’s fourth, fifth and sixth executions. He ordered the hangings of three individuals back in 2000.
Only five weeks into his current post, and following Fukuda’s surprise announcement that he would resign, Yasuoka’s actions are noteworthy. It remains to be seen whether or not he will maintain his position as Justice Minister when the next Prime Minister selects their cabinet. In this light, Yasuoka may have been seeking to back up his earlier assertion that he supports the death penalty.

Yasuoka’s predecessor, Kunio Hatoyama, executed 13 death row inmates during his 10 month tenure.