Samenvatting

This article focuses on the experiences that authors gained during a study trip to Japan. In general terms, the main features of Japanese criminal law are being observed. This system resembles the letter of Dutch criminal law, but in practice it appears to differ greatly. Among other things, attention is paid to the strong position of the prosecutor’s office, the high conviction rate, the limited contradictory nature of the criminal procedure, and the relative strong position of the victim. Subsequently, attention is given to some recent reforms, including the democratization of criminal law. Also, authors describe a visit to the Fuchu-prison. This article concludes with the question to what extent we could learn something from the Japanese practice in the Netherlands.