Japan executed on Thursday two death row convicts bringing the total number of executions carried out in the last six months to seven people, Kyodo News reported.

The first executions under the government led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda were conducted on March 29, when three inmates were hanged marking an end to the unusual 20-month pause in executions.

The death penalty is ordinarily imposed in cases of multiple murders involving aggravating factors.

At present, there are over 140 condemned prisoners awaiting execution in Japan, the largest number ever. An average of ten executions is carried out every year.

Death row inmates are notified only on the day of the execution and may spend years in prison awaiting their fate after conviction.

International human rights organizations have repeatedly called on Japan to abolish capital punishment.

However, over 85 percent of Japanese believe that death penalty is necessary under certain circumstances, public opinion surveys show.