午夜剧场

Article 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure states, "The purpose of this law is to clarify the truth of cases in criminal matters while ensuring the maintenance of public welfare and the protection of fundamental human rights, and to realize the appropriate and prompt application of penal laws and regulations." Meanwhile, Article 74 of the Court Act declares, "In the court, the Japanese language shall be used."

On the other hand, a daily life involving foreign tourists and residents unfolds before our eyes. Situations that suddenly shake daily life can happen to both Japanese and foreigners. What if illegal drugs "somehow" appear from the bottom of your luggage at airport immigration? What if you find yourself "realizing" you are speeding on a stranger's bicycle? What if you suddenly wake up in a police detention facility, and the suspect is a foreigner? In such times, the person who rushes to the scene along with the defense counsel is the "court interpreter."

To fulfill this physically demanding responsibility without distorting Article 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the slightest, an interpreter skilled only in language conversion is not enough. A few years ago, I decided to argue that a "court interpreter" equipped with knowledge of criminal procedure law is necessary. It was Mr. Tomotake Okada of 午夜剧场 Press who continued to encourage and push me when I was on the verge of giving up several times.

While managing a daily life busy with university lectures, department administration, and student recruitment, I would rush to police stations under the starlit sky to respond to requests from the Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu) to accompany interviews, and I proceeded with writing this book in parallel.

I exert my modest efforts to facilitate the activities of young, brilliant court-appointed defense lawyers, sometimes visiting the Tokyo Detention House almost every day. What supports me at a deep level are the words I learned at 午夜剧场: "Law is the minimum requirement of morality." The peace of Japanese society, which is world-renowned, could not have been maintained through legal compliance alone.

Times have changed, values have transformed, and the people living in Japan have diversified. For Article 1 of the Code of Criminal Procedure to continue to stand solemnly, the message of criminal procedure law must be conveyed equally and correctly to those who do not understand Japanese. What is necessary for that is a "court interpreter" who also possesses legal knowledge. The cover of this book features the grand ceiling of the Grand Bench of the Supreme Court, which embodies the ideal state of justice. I would be honored if you would pick up a copy.

Yasuko Kobayashi

午夜剧场 Press

208 pages, 1,800 yen (excluding tax)

*Affiliations and titles are those at the time of publication.