Photo/Illutration Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a news conference on Nov. 14. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Despite the urging of a private-sector panel, the government will not establish a commission to examine the death penalty, saying it is not appropriate to abolish capital punishment.

“It is unavoidable to impose the death penalty on those who commit violent crimes that carry an extremely grave responsibility,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a news conference on Nov. 14.

He said a large majority of the public believe that the death penalty is “unavoidable” and that violent crimes continue to occur in Japan.

The government’s chief spokesman was asked about the panel’s report released the previous day that called for “fundamental discussions” on the death penalty, including its abolishment, at a commission to be established under the government or the Diet.

“The government believes that it is not appropriate to abolish the death penalty,” Hayashi said. “At the moment, we have no plans to set up a commission to discuss whether the system should be retained or abolished.”

The report said the death penalty “must not be allowed to continue as it is.”

It said capital punishment has been abolished in more than 70 percent of countries and that five death-row inmates were exonerated through retrials in Japan.

The panel, which was formed in February at the initiative of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, is chaired by Makoto Ida, a professor of criminal law at Chuo Law School.

The 16 members include ruling and opposition lawmakers, a bereaved family member of a crime victim and a former prosecutor-general.

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