Since a majority of the public says capital punishment is unavoidable, it is not appropriate to abandon the system.

Another un-contextualized quote to react to. What data source was used to determine 'a majority of the public'?

Probably a poor translation as well. I have never heard anyone, ever people who support it, say capital punishment is "unavoidable." Out of context, the statement is just bizarre.

I think we need the context of this quote. It doesn't even make sense, what does unavoidable even mean here?

More gobbledygook.

Funny how politicians cherry-pick "data" to suit their own agendas, but ignore it when it doesn't.

Current examples - majority of people oppose the new self defense enactments, but they(the people) just lack understanding or majority of people don't want the nuclear reactors re-started, but we're in charge not them.

Funny, I thought the entire reason we had rule of law in the first place was so we could pursue higher social ideals than simple majority rule.

'Unavoidable' is definitely nonsense. I can't imagine a poll coming up with that kind of conclusion.

What we need are judges who will stop feeling sorry for the guilty, and give them real time.

Typical illogic on this Abe and LDP idiot. Also the fact, if I recall correctly, is that 64% of the Japanese public opposes capital punishment. Regardless of what the public feels, the moral issue remains. Most advanced countries have abolished capital punishment.

Just trust the government. They will always kill the right people. They are perfect.

Probably a poor translation as well. I have never heard anyone, ever people who support it, say capital punishment is "unavoidable." Out of context, the statement is just bizarre.

The term used is "やむを得ない”

http://www.moj.go.jp/content/000053168.pdf

http://survey.gov-online.go.jp/h21/h21-houseido/images/z02.gif

85.6% in the latest survey.

Thanks for the data, Nigelboy!

With any survey, beware the methodology. How many people were surveyed? Were the questions subjective, or do they serve a particular agenda.

The honourable Minister's "majority of people" refers to 1,944 respondents (interestingly, 3,600 people were surveyed for the same poll 16 years ago).

Their choice of three answers about capital punishment were:

Should be banned for all cases. Don't know/can't say. Unavoidable in some cases.

Minister, I put it to you that a majority of 1,944 respondents does not constitute a majority of the public of Japan, that the Justice Ministry has no legal authority to claim that it does, and that it behoves your office to demonstrate moral leadership when presenting data.

With any survey, beware the methodology. How many people were surveyed? Were the questions subjective, or do they serve a particular agenda.

It's all there. I doubt you can classify the questions to be subjective. It's pretty straight forward to me.

The honourable Minister's "majority of people" refers to 1,944 respondents (interestingly, 3,600 people were surveyed for the same poll 16 years ago).

Do you really think the percentage will fluctuate to your liking if they managed to survey mire people?