In 2009, the LJS, otherwise known as the saiban-in seido ,was implemented in Japan (Mcclanahan, 2012). This system was part of an overall reform of the law system in Japan. The system lets ordinary...Show moreIn 2009, the LJS, otherwise known as the saiban-in seido ,was implemented in Japan (Mcclanahan, 2012). This system was part of an overall reform of the law system in Japan. The system lets ordinary citizens, citizens who do not have any experience in participating in court and are not professionally educated judges, participate in criminal trials. These ordinary citizens participate in these trials as a jury member. These jury members are able to decide on the right form of justice in criminal trials together with three professional judges. This jury is suppose to represent the voices of the ordinary citizens in the Japanese law system. This way, the law system is seen as more democratised system compared to the old traditional three judges system and miscarriages of justice should be noticeable sooner and therefore easier to prevent. The first chapter of this paper will take a look at possible previous jury systems that can be compared to the current LJS. We will look at these previous systems to see what kind of impact these had on the law system in Japan and to see whether these can be comparable to the current system. We will take a look at what made Japan discontinue these previous systems. After this we could possibly see what would make this 2009 introduced LJS different from other such failed systems and would therefore make this system more successful. The second chapter will take a look at what the original plan for the LJS in Japan was concerning the goals set for the system. Chapter three will look at the democratisation the system was originally aiming for. Following in chapter four, we will look at what exactly the judge system entails, how it works and what changed in the courtroom. In chapter five we will look at possible results the system is giving. After which in chapter six, we can compare these current results with the original goals of the system and see if these are unforeseen results. This will lead us to the conclusion about whether or not this system indeed democratised the system as originally planned.Show less
In the postwar period, developments and changes, among the others, occurred also within yakuza organizations. On both levels, local and international, different reasons lead to the decision of...Show moreIn the postwar period, developments and changes, among the others, occurred also within yakuza organizations. On both levels, local and international, different reasons lead to the decision of taking action against the organized crime. Due to local factors, mostly a deeper involvement of the citizens in gang related activities, implying more danger in the daily life; and due to international factors, mainly the union of the ‘democratized countries’ against the fight of organized crime, with particular reference to drug related offences, Japan moved for the first time in a serious way against yakuza. In 1992 The Bōtaihō暴対法, or ‘Anti-bōryokudan law’, law No. 77 was implemented. Together with the anti- bōryokudan law, through the years, other laws have been improved, or enacted, with the purpose of controlling, or confining yakuza activities out of the Japanese society. The most recent is the introduction of prefectural ordinances: these, carrying the same purpose of isolating暴力団員bōryokudan-in “bōryokudan members” through the ban of their commercial relations with the societies’ members. Looking at yakuza activities and developments during the twenty years between the first anti-bōryokudan law enforcement (1992) and the recent enactment of the prefectural ordinances (2012), did the laws do what they were supposed to? Have the goals that the laws were aimed at been realized?Show less
This research tries to explore the effects of institutional social capital on the job hunt of Japanese elite university students. It does so by comparing the institutional social capital of elite...Show moreThis research tries to explore the effects of institutional social capital on the job hunt of Japanese elite university students. It does so by comparing the institutional social capital of elite university students and that of more moderate university students. By making use of semi-structured interviews wherein the students are able to explain their personal experiences, it becomes clear that there are many ways in which students feel the influence of their institutional linkage. Because there are many ways in which social capital can affect the job hunt, this study focuses on four main elements; job hunting support from the home university, job search channels which include informal contacts, effect of institutional linkage and the successfulness of students to find employment. Combining these four elements it becomes clear that the way in which elite university students make use of their institutional social capital differs from that of moderate university students.Show less
