Man executed in Japan over stabbing rampage in Tokyo

Justice minister defends death penalty after first hanging of a prisoner this year

Police at the scene of a mass murder in Tokyo in 2008 which has now seen perpetrator Tomohiro Kato put to death (AFP/Getty)

Japan has executed a man who killed seven people in a lorry attack and stabbing rampage in Tokyo 14 years ago.

Tomohiro Kato was hanged at the Tokyo detention centre on Tuesday, Japan’s justice minister Yoshihisi Furukawa said.

Addressing growing international criticism of Japan’s use of capital punishment, Mr Furukawa said the practice was justified in response to heinous and violent crime and scrapping it was not appropriate at this point.