Notes

Japan is in Eastern Asia. Independence:3 May 1947. Constitution:
previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 ; note - the
constitution has not been amended since its enactment in 1947.
Japan is a constitutional monarchy.
A constitutional monarchy, limited monarchy or parliamentary monarchy
is a monarchy in which governing powers of the monarch are restricted by a constitution.

The government of Japan is a constitutional monarchy in which the power of the Emperor is limited and is
relegated primarily to ceremonial duties. As in many other states, the Government is divided into three
branches: the Executive branch, the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch. highest court(s): Supreme
Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court
has jurisdiction in constitutional issues

The Japanese criminal justice system has been criticized on several grounds. Japanese police have the right
to detain suspects for a long period. Although torture is rarely reported, this puts suspects under
psychological pressure to confess. They are detained and interrogated by police for periods which critics
regard as unnecessary, though interrogation often induces confession which is later corroborated[citation
needed]. In several cases, the courts have acknowledged that confessions were forced and ordered prisoners
released. The Japanese courts have had conviction rates that exceeded 99% in the past but that number has
been curtailed in recent history due to changes in Japanese law.

Article 36 of the Constitution forbids "the infliction of torture by any public officer and cruel
punishments," and article 195 of the Penal Code states that public officers who inflict violence on or
abuse suspects, accused person or anyone else for the purpose of their official duty including criminal
investigation are punishable and article 196 demands that such acts be penalized with a heavier sentence
than otherwise. However, reports by Japanese bar associations, human rights groups, and some prisoners
indicated such physical abuse often they don't report takes place in regard to the treatment of illegal
immigrants. Also, Amnesty International reports that the use of physical force in the penal system is not
uncommon. National Police Law permits persons to lodge complaints against the police with national and local
public safety commissions. These commissions may direct the police to conduct investigations.