Article 305

①When a court examines documentary evidence upon request from a public prosecutor, the defendant or the defense counsel, the presiding judge must order the person who has made the request to read the documents aloud; provided, however, that the presiding judge may personally read them aloud, or have an associate judge or a court clerk do so.

②When a court examines documentary evidence ex officio, the presiding judge must personally read the documents aloud, or have an associate judge or a court clerk do so.

③When a ruling under Article 290-2, paragraph (1) or (3) is rendered, reading documentary evidence aloud pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs shall be conducted by a method whereby particulars identifying the victim are not disclosed.

④The preceding paragraph also applies to the reading of documentary evidence pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2), when a ruling is rendered under Article 290-3, paragraph (1). In this case, the term "particulars identifying the victim" in the same paragraph is replaced with "particulars identifying the witness or the like."

⑤In the examination of a written statement, part of which contains a recording medium, pursuant to the provisions of Article 157-6, paragraph (5), the recording medium shall be played in lieu of reading aloud pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (1) or (2); provided, however, that the presiding judge may, when finding it appropriate after hearing the opinions of a public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel, order the person who has requested the examination of that written statement, an associate judge or a court clerk to state, or personally state the content of the statement recorded in the written statement, in lieu of playing that recording medium.