Notorious death row inmate, Shizuo Yamano, has passed away in Japan. Best known for his high-profile case that stirred the nation, his death concludes one of the longest stayed executions in the Japan's history. The cause and exact timing of his death are yet to be disclosed, leaving room for public speculation surrounding Japan's capital punishment system.

In Japan, the death penalty is widely accepted, with public opinion favouring its existence as a strong deterrent for grave crimes. Death row inmates are typically not informed of their execution until the last minute, maintaining a shroud of secrecy in the process which has been a cause for international concern.

Contrary to Japan, many US states and almost all EU countries have abolished the death penalty. Also, the details surrounding executions in the US are generally publicly available - a marked difference from the secretive nature of capital punishment in Japan.