That nutball cultist who released sarin gas into a crowded subway was sentenced to death yesterday. I did not know that Japan had a death penalty - then assumed it was done Samurai style - wrong - but it does have some peculiar aspects. The day of execution is not disclosed to the prisoner until the very day it happens, almost always Friday before 9 AM. The prisoner is kept in solitary confinement and rarely sees anyone, not even family or legal representation.

[link|http://www.japanfile.com/culture_and_society/social_issues/death_penalty.shtml|http://www.japanfile...ath_penalty.shtml]