Editorial Aug 31, 2016
A new name for old conspiracy bill
If passed, legislation that criminalizes the acts of plotting and preparing to commit crimes will lead to greater government surveillance.
Editorial Apr 5, 2016
Special trials for Hansen's patients
Rather than merely offer an apology to former Hansen's disease patients for their closed trials, the Supreme Court should look into whether they received fair trials.
Editorial Oct 29, 2015
Lessons from Osaka arson case
Investigators should never try to extract a confession from a suspect in a manner that conforms to a predetermined scenario. Yet false charges based on coerced false confessions happen time and again.
Editorial Aug 20, 2015
Tougher penalties for sex crimes
The Justice Ministry is looking at increasing the minimum prison term for rape and making it possible to bring charges against sex crime suspects without a formal victim complaint.
Editorial Aug 20, 2015
Time is ripe for inheritance reform
Some Civil Code provisions regarding inheritance date all the way back the Meiji Era. It's time to bring them into the 21st century.
Global-related Jun 23, 2015
Ecuador now exporting its kangaroo courts
by Mac Margolis
These days, whenever the Organization of American States convenes — as it did last week in Washington for its 45th general assembly — magical thinking takes over.
Editorial Nov 22, 2014
Tough penalties on sex crimes
A Justice Ministry panel's discussions on ways to toughen penalties for sex crimes are extremely important to help reduce sexual assaults and other sex-related crimes in Japan.
Editorial Jul 8, 2013
Reducing rate of recidivism
A Criminal Law revision passed by the Diet last month provides a suspended sentence and probation procedure for convicts in a certain category as a way to reduce recidivism.