IN JAPAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8943, 31 May 1907, Page 2

IN JAPAN.

ITS COURTS Of JUSTICE. As Japan has borrowed its naval training from England and its military system from Germany, so it has introduced its judicial arrangements from France, says the author of " Signs and Portents in the Far East." No juries are employed, and long crossquestioning of prisoners and defendants by the Bench are familiar features of the proceedings in court. The Bar is exclusively Japanese, and its members enjoy much consideration, and make large incomes. They represent clients, address the 'court, and suggest to the Judge questions to put to the witnesses, but they do no examining. On the other hand, admissions which they make ara held to have been made by their clients. The court consists always of (several Judges sitting as a Bench. There is also in each court a public prosecutor, who represents the Crown in criminal oases, and watches the public interest in civil ones. The accused is always expected to confess, and so much weight is attached to his doing so that, up to thirty yeans ago, torture was employed as a regular means to this end. I saw attractive kitchens where savoury rice and vegetables were being cooked for the convicts, and was shown the varying measures of food given to each individual to accord with his behaviour ; for the Japanese hold, quit© wisely, that violence and misbehaviour are best met by reducing the rice supply. This means of discipline, I gathered, was held rather in terrorem than practised habitually, since, most of the prisoners looked well-fed and cheerful. The whole organisation, from the secret chambers of preliminary judicial investigation, where the accused is tried by every test but that of the opinion of his peeps, to the glazed hospital wards of the prison, where the consumptive criminal is given every luxury except fresh air, struck me as over-elaborated in faithful imitation of not always perfect European models. It represents, however, a surprisingly high standard, considering the shortness of the time which elapsed since its introduction from the West- ; and its limitations are typical of the stage which Japan has now reached as a State civilised upon Western pattern.