hits (you), (you) hit back," Morosawa said, reckoning such acts of revenge were permitted until "the enactment of modern law, when the government took away the right to retribution — or rather, the government was to carry out (retribution) on behalf" of the victims.

People in Japan victimized by crime have been kept from the trial process. It wasn't until 2000, when the crime-victims protection law was enacted, that they got a chance to express their feelings in court and access trial records.

Another major step was taken in 2004 when a fundamental law to protect victims' rights was enacted, promoting financial compensation and medical and welfare support for crime victims.

Japan is finally addressing the rights of crime victims, Morosawa said, figuring the country is 20 to 30 years behind the West.