taikan said...

taikan at 06:24 AM JST - 22nd October

N.Korea's had nukes for a couple of years now. The U.S. has accepted that up til now anyway.

The US has not "accepted" it. Admittedly, the US has not started a war over it. However, ever since NK conducted its first nuclear test the US has been engaged in active…

Posted in Gates says U.S. won't accept nuclear North Korea at 06:24 AM JST - 22nd October
taikan at 03:08 AM JST - 10th September

The article clearly states that the defendant pleaded guilty on the first day of the hearing, so the only issue to be decided by the court is the proper sentence. Things such as the impact of a prison sentence on a defendant and his/her family are routinely considered as part…

Posted in Victim, defendant's mom questioned on 2nd day of jury trial with interpreters at 03:08 AM JST - 10th September
taikan at 04:46 AM JST - 1st September

Europe and Japan wont spend a dime on defense.

After the United States, the combined EU countries spend the second highest amount on the military. Next comes China, followed by Japan and then Russia.

Posted in Hatoyama unlikely to change U.S.-Japan alliance at 04:46 AM JST - 1st September
taikan at 11:32 PM JST - 14th August

mummet

why did it go to trial if he pleaded guilty?

The Japanese legal system requires that each person convicted of a crime must be proven guilty based on the evidence presented to the court. Therefore, even if a defendant pleads guilty, the prosecution must present evidence establishing guilt. To…

Posted in 2nd lay jury trial gives man 4 1/2 years for attempted murder at 11:32 PM JST - 14th August
taikan at 02:27 AM JST - 14th August

It's amazing how little people know about legal systems both in Japan and elsewhere.

All such systems, if they have any claim to legitimacy, allow for appeals, including appeals seeking review of the severity of the sentence. In some countries, an appeal is limited to review of the record in…

Posted in Defendant convicted in 1st lay jury trial appeals 15-year sentence at 02:27 AM JST - 14th August
taikan at 12:00 PM JST - 13th August

Wasn't this castle destroyed by Anguirus in 1955?

No. This is one of the rare castles that was not destroyed at or about the time of the Meiji restoration. It also managed to survive WWII. There is at least one other such castle, Matsumoto-jo.

Posted in 007, 'The Last Samurai' and Himeji Castle at 12:00 PM JST - 13th August
taikan at 04:29 AM JST - 6th August

It is inaccurate to refer to the saiban-in as jurors. Rather, they are the equivalent of temporary judges who have not received legal training. Thus, on issues of law they should defer to the professional judges on the panel, but on issues of fact (including motivation, intent, etc.) they should…

Posted in All 6 lay jurors question defendant on third day of trial at 04:29 AM JST - 6th August
taikan at 12:11 AM JST - 4th August

In many countries, the presiding judge is able to set the schedule for a trial, thus making it possible to determine with great precision exactly how long a trial will be. That doesn't mean that it is a "show" trial, but it does force each side to decide what evidence…

Posted in Lay jury trial gets under way; reluctance to participate high at 12:11 AM JST - 4th August
taikan at 06:32 AM JST - 25th July

Ambassadors can be very important, and the fact that Reagan allowed Mansfield, a Democrat, to stay on as Ambassador does not detract from that point. Reagan did so because (1) prior to serving in the Senate and then being appointed as Ambassador, Mansfield had been a professor of Far Eastern…

Posted in Roos wants to strengthen 'special bond' as next envoy to Japan at 06:32 AM JST - 25th July
taikan at 10:55 PM JST - 21st July

Every president has always reserved some of his ambasadorships as political chips to reward top fund raisers.

That's true, but those appointments usually are limited to countries where the US does not anticipate having any significant issues arise. Given the likelihood of a new administration in Japan, the actions of…

Posted in Hearing to mull John Roos' nomination as envoy to Japan set for Thursday at 10:55 PM JST - 21st July