Two Japanese inmates executed   Two inmates were hanged Friday
in the second round of executions since Shinzo Abe and the
Liberal Democratic Party returned to power in December.  Put to
death were yakuza Katsuji Hamasaki, 64, and Yoshihide Miyagi,
56, according to the Justice Ministry. They were convicted of
gunning down two men linked to a rival crime syndicate at a
restaurant in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, in 2005.  Both inmates
were hanged at the Tokyo Detention House, the ministry said.
“There are reasons why capital punishment has been retained,”
Justice Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki said during a news conference
following the hangings.  He said the death penalty deters
potential criminals from committing serious crimes and provides
consolation to the relatives of crime victims.  In the previous
round of hangings in February, three inmates were hanged.