TOKYO, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 80 percent of poll respondents in Japan believe that having the death penalty for some crimes is "unavoidable," according to a recent government survey.
The Cabinet Office survey showed Friday that 83.1 percent of all respondents said that capital punishment should be retained, with many citing the feelings of crime victims and their families.
Meanwhile, the share of people who think that the death penalty system should be abolished stood at 16.5 percent.
Among those who support getting rid of the death penalty, with multiple answers allowed, 71.0 percent said that if a trial error is found after an execution, there is no way to undo the mistake.
Asked whether they think the number of heinous crimes would rise if the death penalty were abolished, 71.2 percent of all respondents said "yes," while 27.7 percent said "no."
The Cabinet Office survey included 3,000 people aged 18 or older nationwide between October and December last year. The response rate was 60.5 percent. ■
