①The presiding judge may limit any questions or statements by persons concerned in the case when their questions or statements overlap with previous questions or statements, are irrelevant to the case, or are otherwise inappropriate, insofar as this does not violate the essential rights of those persons. The same applies when the defendant is questioned by persons concerned in the case.

②When examining a witness, an expert witness, an interpreter or a translator, if the presiding judge finds that there is a risk that the body or property of these persons or their relatives may be harmed, threatened or confused and that the witness, expert witness, interpreter or translator will not be able to give full testimony if said person's address or work place or other particulars specifying the ordinary whereabouts of these persons are disclosed, the presiding judge may limit the questions concerning these particulars; provided however, that this does not apply when limitations on the public prosecutor's examination may interfere considerably with proving the case, or when limitations on the examination by the defendant or the defense counsel may substantially harm the defense of the defendant.

③The presiding judge may limit any questions or statements, if the ruling set forth under Article 290-2, paragraph (1) or paragraph (3) has been rendered, and the questions or statements by persons concerned in the case lead to particulars identifying the victim except in cases where placing restrictions may interfere considerably with proving the case or may substantially harm the defense of the defendant. The same applies when the defendant is questioned by persons concerned in the case.

④The preceding paragraph also applies to questions or statements made by persons concerned in the case, or an act of persons concerned in the case seeking a statement from the defendant, in the case where a ruling under Article 290-3, paragraph (1) has been rendered. In this case, the term "particulars identifying the victim" in the same paragraph is replaced with "particulars identifying the witness or the like."

⑤If the public prosecutor or attorney acting as a defense counsel, who is subject to an order pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraphs, disobeys the order, a court may notify the person with authority to direct and supervise that public prosecutor or the bar association to which that attorney belongs or the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and request that appropriate measures be taken.

⑥A person who has received a request pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph must notify the court of measures the person has taken.

At the beginning of the examination of evidence, the public prosecutor must state the facts that said prosecutor intends to prove through evidence; provided however, that said prosecutor may not make any statements from which prejudice or a preconception of the case is likely to arise based on materials which are not qualified for evidence or which are not intended to be requested for examination in the court.

①The court may, upon hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel, determine the scope, order and method of the examination of evidence.

②The court may have one of its collegiate members carry out the proceeding prescribed in the preceding paragraph.

③The court may, at any time when it finds appropriate, upon hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel, change the scope, order or method of the examination of evidence determined pursuant to paragraph (1).

①The public prosecutor, the defendant or the defense counsel may request examination of evidence.

②The court may, when it finds necessary, examine evidence ex officio.

①When requesting examination of a witness, expert witness, interpreter or translator, the public prosecutor, the defendant or the defense counsel must give the opponent an opportunity to learn of the name and address of that person in advance. When requesting examination of documentary or material evidence, the public prosecutor, the defendant or the defense counsel must give the opponent an opportunity to inspect the evidence in advance; provided however, that this does not apply when the opponent has no objection.

②When the court rules to examine evidence ex officio, it must hear the opinion of the public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel.

In giving an opportunity to learn of the name and address of a witness, an expert witness, an interpreter or a translator or to inspect documentary evidence or an article of evidence pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) of the preceding Article, when a public prosecutor or a defense counsel finds that the body or property of the witness, expert witness, interpreter, translator or a person whose name is included or recorded in the documentary evidence or article of evidence, or that person's relative is likely to be harmed, or any of these persons is likely to be threatened or confused, the public prosecutor or defense counsel may notify the opponent to that effect, and request that special care be taken so that particulars that may identify the address, workplace and other ordinary whereabouts of that person are not known by persons concerned (including the defendant) and the safety of that person is not otherwise threatened, unless those particulars are necessary for the proof or investigation of the crime, or the defense of the defendant.

When providing the opportunity to learn of the name and address of a witness, or the opportunity to inspect documentary evidence or articles of evidence, pursuant to the provisions of Article 299, paragraph (1), if it is deemed that there is the risk that the reputation or the peaceful social life of the victim or others will be seriously harmed or the risk of physical or property harm, threat or confusion to the victim or victim's relatives through particulars identifying the victim being disclosed, the public prosecutor may notify the defense counsel to such effect and request that such particulars not be disclosed to the defendant or other persons, unless the particulars identifying the victim are necessary for the defense of the defendant; provided however, that, except where the extract of the charging sheet, etc. has been submitted pursuant to Article 271-2, paragraph (2), when requesting that the particulars not be disclosed to the defendant, of the particulars identifying the victim, these particulars are limited to those other than the particulars given in the charging sheet.