Japan executes man convicted of killing five in pachinko fire

A man who killed five people by setting fire to a pachinko parlour in Osaka in 2009 has been hanged in Japan's first execution by Sanae Takaichi's government.

A man who killed five people by setting fire to a pachinko parlour in 2009 was hanged Friday in Japan’s first execution by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi‘s government as the country faces growing calls for more transparency and the abolition of capital punishment.

Japan and the United States are the only two G7 countries to still use capital punishment, and surveys suggest there is strong support among the Japanese public

Sunao Takami set fire to the crowded pachinko parlor in Osaka by spreading gasoline and throwing a lit match, engulfing the building, killing five and injuring 10 others.

Sunao Takami set fire to the crowded pachinko parlor in Osaka by spreading gasoline and throwing a lit match.

Japan early Friday executed a 58-year-old man convicted of killing five people in a fire he ignited at a pachinko parlor in Osaka 17 years ago.

Sunao Takami set fire to the crowded pachinko parlour in Osaka by spreading petrol and throwing a lit match.

Japan executes a man convicted of setting fire that killed 5 at a pachinko parlor in Osaka  AP News

Japan executes a man convicted of setting fire that killed 5 at a pachinko parlor in Osaka  Toronto Star

Japan says it has executed a man convicted of killing five people after setting fire to a pachinko parlor in 2009

Japan says it has executed a man convicted of killing five people after setting fire to a pachinko parlor in 2009

This is the first time since June 2025 that the country has enacted capital punishment.

TOKYO: Japan executed on Friday (Aug 21) a man convicted of an arson attack on a pachinko parlour in 2009 that killed five people, authorities said.It was Japan's first hanging since Takahiro Shiraishi, the "Twitter killer" who murdered and dismembered nine people, was put to death in June 2025.Sunao Takami, the man ex

Japan executed on Friday a man convicted of an arson attack on a pachinko parlour in 2009 that killed five people, authorities said. It was Japan’s first hanging since Takahiro Shiraishi, the “Twitter killer” who murdered and dismembered nine people, was put to death in June 2025. Sunao Takami, the man executed on Frid

The execution — the first under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration — took place on Friday morning, according to media reports.