This stark, almost peaceful looking room is actually Japan’s execution room. The ring on top holds the noose, the red square outlines the trapdoor and this is the first time Japan has ever shown these rooms off.
Much of Japan’s execution process has been shrouded in mystery. In fact, when local news outlets were previously taken to these execution sites (seven exist in the country), they were transported in a bus with closed curtains to keep the location a secret. In the first viewing of these execution rooms, the NY Times describes Japan’s execution process:
All executions in Japan are done by hanging and apparently out of the countries who make up the G8, the United States and Japan are the only countries who still enforce capital punishment. [NY Times]