Despite heavy criticism\, Japan’s criminal conviction rate continues to remain over 99.8%. Some researchers argue that Japanese Judges tend to acc ept public prosecutors’ allegations without analyzing evidence\, but is thi s true? In this talk Mr. Takai will explain why such views reflect a stereo typic misunderstanding of the Japanese criminal justice process. This will be illustrated through an examination of Japanese criminal procedures\, esp ecially focusing on the roles of Japanese public prosecutors. In addition\, Mr. Takai will suggest possible alternative reasons for the high convictio n rate and discuss recent amendments to allow for the institution of a pros ecution by a type of grand jury regardless of the public prosecutor’s decis ion not to prosecute.
Ken taro Takai: Japanese Public Prosecutor
Mr. Kentaro Takai is a Japanes e public prosecutor with deep experience in both investigating and prosecut ing crimes in Japan. He came to Canada as a member of the Japanese Governme nt Short-Term Overseas Fellowship Program of the National Personnel Authori ty in 2017 to do research on organized crime and currently is a visiting sc holar at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. He received his LL.B. degree fr om Tokyo University and J.D. from Keio University. He has also joined the i nternational training course held by the United Nations Asia and Far East I nstitute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders in 2016 .
This event is co-sponsored by the Centre for Japanese Re search. Light lunch will be served.
