Inside Japan's Harrowing Death Row Jails Where Prisoners Are Executed With No Warning (photos)

Every death is shrouded in secrecy - with those executed killed with little or no notice.

Their families and loved one have no chance to say goodbye and are only told about the execution after it has happened.

Capital punishment is still legal in Japan, where those condemned to die are executed by hanging.

In each case, they are blindfolded and have a black hood placed over their heads before their neck is broken using a rope, which hangs over a trap door.

Each execution is carried out with three prison officers present. They all press the buttons for the trap door at the same time so they don't know who is responsible.