Japan's first execution in a year, executes 2 convicted killers

Tokyo: Japan says it has executed two convicted killers.

Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said the executions took place on Wednesday. It was Japan's first round of executions in a year.

Japan, along with the United States, is one of the few industrialized countries that still has capital punishment.

There is little public outcry against the death penalty, but the country has been criticized by rights groups such as Amnesty International and the main Japanese bar association.