The World We Live In...

I think it's quite obvious that it's not a deterrent in the least. US & Japan are the only countries in the G8 that use it... the US has the highest murder rate of the G8, coincidentally, and Japan (with the lowest) has their own problems, mainly with what their perceptions of humane are. I see it as both countries failing to acclimate to world wide standards and practics. Japan b/c they are not only stubborn, but are petrified of change. The US, b/c "we don't need no standards".

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita

*You likely won't get the death penalty in Japan for killing just 1 person.