Japan executes man over 2008 stabbing rampage

apan has executed a man who killed seven people in a vehicle crash and stabbing rampage, despite growing international criticism of its failure to drop the death penalty.

Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa told reporters that Tomohiro Kato was hanged at the Tokyo detention centre on Tuesday morning.

Mr Furukawa said capital punishment was a justified response to continuing heinous and violent crime and scrapping it wasn't appropriate at this point.

He said Kato had thoroughly prepared to commit the mass killings - "an atrocious act that led to extremely serious consequences and had a major impact on society."