This would get struck down in the U.S. in a heartbeat

[cstaylor]

Driver to pay 7 mil. yen for not apologizing to photo

"Freedom of religion should be guaranteed. The defendant's refusal to offer an apology to the photo of the deceased does not mean he was insincere. However, if he had apologized in front of the photo of the deceased, it would have better eased the mental anguish of the bereaved family," the judge said in a recent ruling.

and

The judge thus ordered him to pay 73 million yen to the plaintiffs -- 66 million yen in compensation for causing the victim's death and 7 million yen for refusing to apologize in front of the photo of the deceased.

Okay, let me get this straight. The judge says that freedom of religion should be guaranteed, yet slaps an additional $55,000 on the total bill because he refused to commit idolatry.

[cstaylor]

No problem. What's keeping you busy?

[kamome]

...Japanese courts force a guy to pay tens of thousands of dollars for not refusing to apologize in front of a picture, but refuse to allow former comfort women to recover any damages, and give husbands plenty of leeway to beat their wives. What a f-ed system...

[cstaylor]

...Japanese courts force a guy to pay tens of thousands of dollars for not refusing to apologize in front of a picture, but refuse to allow former comfort women to recover any damages, and give husbands plenty of leeway to beat their wives. What a f-ed system...

When the judges aren't too busy playing golf or playing around with underage teenagers, they're busy rewriting the law using the court system. The real problem is that Japan has only one real political party (LDP control of the government for over 50 years [ minus a brief 18 month spell ]), so judicial appointments work on the good ol' boy system. You don't have the opposition shooting down appointments like in the U.S.

[kamome]

The real problem is that Japan has only one real political party (LDP control of the government for over 50 years [ minus a brief 18 month spell ]), so judicial appointments work on the good ol' boy system.

Yes, the LDP appintment system is a problem, but I think the real problem is that these judges are operating with old fashioned values that aren't in tune with the majority of people out there (much like bureaucrats and LDP politicians). So these judges are old and conservative and untouchable. And since no one in Japan will bring a court case for the purpose of having a ruling overturned, the judiciary system in Japan, unlike the one in the States, is a force for status quo conservatism, not a force for social change.

[cstaylor]

If Japan would institute a jury system.

[kamome]

...also, if they allowed the media into the courtrooms. And had a docket that wasn't so slow that it takes a case 10 years or more to be adjudicated.

[cstaylor]

Ultra, watch the news? They always show the classic "three judge panel" of the Japanese justice system whenever something substantial happens in the courtroom. There is no jury of your peers (not that would help if you were a gaijin), which is why there aren't so many practicing acto^H^H^H^Hlawyers in Japan. I think there were more attourneys in San Jose than in all of Japan.

[cstaylor]

...but I'm sure there will be plenty o' cases from the World Cup.

[kamome]

And we'll have our own "trial" for all the major gaijin cases, like all those marines down in Okinawa.

Here's my verdict: castration.

[kamome]

kamome, you're just trying to thin out the competition.

Nah, if that were the case, I'd be calling for mini-G's deportation.

But those Marines down there who commit crimes are nothing but scumbags. I have long felt that, as long as US bases exist in Japan, the soldiers should be confined to the base and not allowed to mingle with the public. They're just too dangerous/violent, and have no respect for the Japanese.

[kamome]

Geez, have I assimilated that much? Reference the salaryman discussion in the other thread.

[cstaylor]

I have long felt that, as long as US bases exist in Japan, the soldiers should be confined to the base and not allowed to mingle with the public. They're just too dangerous/violent, and have no respect for the Japanese

Okinawa could kiss its economy goodbye if that was the case. But I don't think the marines will be here too much longer, with Bush and Co. egging on the right-wing in Japan to remilitarize.