The death penalty has been specifically proven, many times over, to have no effect on reducing crime levels. People do not generally commit crimes with the expectation of getting caught (indeed, people rarely commit crimes with much forethought at all, funnily enough).
Japan's historically low crime rate (although it has risen significantly since the bursting of their economic bubble) would likely have to do with cultural factors and their general prosperity. There are other less pleasant factors too (such as how the police handle and report crimes, and the fact that many, many sexual assaults and harassment go unreported and even more did in the past).
Japan's historically low crime rate (although it has risen significantly since the bursting of their economic bubble) would likely have to do with cultural factors and their general prosperity. There are other less pleasant factors too (such as how the police handle and report crimes, and the fact that many, many sexual assaults and harassment go unreported and even more did in the past).