# 刑事訴訟法 / Code of Criminal Procedure — 第二百九十一条 (Article 291) This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291. Every law, and how to address a provision: https://japanlaw.org/llms.txt. The same laws as MCP tools (no sign-in): https://japanlaw.org/mcp. - Law: 刑事訴訟法 (Code of Criminal Procedure), 昭和二十三年法律第百三十一号 - English title "Code of Criminal Procedure": Ministry of Justice translation - Kind: Act — the distinction between 法律 (Act), 政令 (Cabinet Order), 省令 (Ministerial Order) and 条例 (local ordinance) decides who may issue it and what it may say. - Provision: 第二百九十一条 (Article 291) — address `art-291` - Text in force since: 2026-10-20 - URL (the page that opens at this provision): https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291 - e-Gov law ID: 323AC0000000131 — never renamed. A permanent link, `/l/{lawId}/{address}` on this site, redirects to the page. - Every provision below carries its address and its URL on the line under it. - Japanese text: e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁). English: as marked on each line below. Only the Japanese as published by the government has legal effect; the text below is a copy of it. Every English rendering below is a translation and says which kind: the Ministry of Justice's translation, or this site's machine translation, whose model and date the Sources list names. They are never merged and never substituted for one another. --- ### 第二百九十一条 art-291 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291 **第一項** 検察官は、まず、起訴状を朗読しなければならない。 art-291/par-1 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-1 A public prosecutor must first read a charging sheet aloud. Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第二項** 第二百九十条の二第一項又は第三項の決定があつたときは、前項の起訴状の朗読は、被害者特定事項を明らかにしない方法でこれを行うものとする。この場合においては、検察官は、被告人に起訴状を示さなければならない。 art-291/par-2 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-2 When a ruling is rendered under Article 290-2, paragraph (1) or paragraph (3), a public prosecutor shall read a charging sheet aloud under the preceding paragraph by a method whereby particulars identifying the victim are not disclosed. In this case, the public prosecutor must show the charging sheet to the defendant. Ministry of Justice translation with a slip corrected by this site — not the Ministry's text; the Ministry printed: "When a ruling is rendered under Article 290-2, paragraph (1) or paragraph (3), a public prosecutor shall read a charging sheet aloud under the preceding paragraph by a method whereby particulars identifying the victim are not disclosed. In this case, the public prosecutor must show the charging sheet to the accused." — https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb **第三項** 前条第一項の決定があつた場合における第一項の起訴状の朗読についても、前項と同様とする。この場合において、同項中「被害者特定事項」とあるのは、「証人等特定事項」とする。 art-291/par-3 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-3 The preceding paragraph also applies to the reading of a charging sheet under paragraph (1), when a ruling is rendered under paragraph (1) of the preceding Article. In this case, the term "particulars identifying the victim" in the same paragraph is replaced with "particulars identifying the witness or the like." Ministry of Justice translation — Japanese Law Translation Database System **第四項** 第二百七十一条の二第四項の規定による措置がとられた場合においては、第二項後段（前項前段の規定により第二項後段と同様とすることとされる場合を含む。以下この項において同じ。）の規定は、当該措置に係る個人特定事項の全部又は一部について第二百七十一条の五第一項の決定があつた場合に限り、適用する。この場合において、第二項後段中「起訴状」とあるのは、「第二百七十一条の二第四項の規定による措置に係る個人特定事項の全部について第二百七十一条の五第一項の決定があつた場合にあつては起訴状を、第二百七十一条の二第四項の規定による措置に係る個人特定事項の一部について当該決定があつた場合にあつては起訴状抄本等及び第二百七十一条の五第四項に規定する書面」とする。 art-291/par-4 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-4 Where measures have been taken under Article 271-2, paragraph (4), the provisions of the second sentence of paragraph (2) (including the case where it is to be treated in the same way as the second sentence of paragraph (2) pursuant to the first sentence of the preceding paragraph; hereinafter the same applies in this paragraph) apply only where a ruling under Article 271-5, paragraph (1) has been made as to all or part of the particulars identifying an individual pertaining to those measures. In this case, the phrase "the charging sheet" in the second sentence of paragraph (2) is deemed to be replaced with "in the case where a ruling under Article 271-5, paragraph (1) has been made as to all of the particulars identifying an individual pertaining to the measures under Article 271-2, paragraph (4), the charging sheet, and in the case where that ruling has been made as to part of the particulars identifying an individual pertaining to the measures under Article 271-2, paragraph (4), the extract of the charging sheet, etc. and the document prescribed in Article 271-5, paragraph (4)". machine translation, not official **第五項** 裁判長は、第一項の起訴状の朗読が終わつた後、被告人に対し、終始沈黙し、又は個々の質問に対し陳述を拒むことができる旨その他裁判所の規則で定める被告人の権利を保護するため必要な事項を告げた上、被告人及び弁護人に対し、被告事件について陳述する機会を与えなければならない。 art-291/par-5 · https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-5 After a charging sheet has been read aloud under paragraph (1), the presiding judge must notify the defendant that the defendant may remain silent at all times or refuse to answer individual questions, and of other necessary matters provided in the Rules of Court to protect the rights of the defendant, and then give the defendant and the defense counsel an opportunity to make a statement concerning the case under public prosecution. machine translation, not official --- ## Cites - art-291/par-2: 第二百九十条の二第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十条の二第一項 (Article 290-2, paragraph (1)), art-290-2/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-290-2/par-1 - art-291/par-2: 第三項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十条の二第三項 (Article 290-2, paragraph (3)), art-290-2/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-290-2/par-3 - art-291/par-2: 前項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第一項 (Article 291, paragraph (1)), art-291/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-1 - art-291/par-3: 前条第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十条の三第一項 (Article 290-3, paragraph (1)), art-290-3/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-290-3/par-1 - art-291/par-3: 第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第一項 (Article 291, paragraph (1)), art-291/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-1 - art-291/par-3: 前項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第二項 (Article 291, paragraph (2)), art-291/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-2 - art-291/par-4: 第二百七十一条の二第四項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百七十一条の二第四項 (Article 271-2, paragraph (4)), art-271-2/par-4 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-271-2/par-4 - art-291/par-4: 第二項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第二項 (Article 291, paragraph (2)), art-291/par-2 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-2 - art-291/par-4: 前項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第三項 (Article 291, paragraph (3)), art-291/par-3 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-3 - art-291/par-4: この項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第四項 (Article 291, paragraph (4)), art-291/par-4 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-4 - art-291/par-4: 第二百七十一条の五第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百七十一条の五第一項 (Article 271-5, paragraph (1)), art-271-5/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-271-5/par-1 - art-291/par-4: 第二百七十一条の五第四項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百七十一条の五第四項 (Article 271-5, paragraph (4)), art-271-5/par-4 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-271-5/par-4 - art-291/par-5: 第一項 → 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第一項 (Article 291, paragraph (1)), art-291/par-1 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-1 ## Cited by 10 provisions cite this one. No official source publishes this direction. - 不正競争防止法 第二十四条第一項（起訴状の朗読方法の特例） — https://japanlaw.org/en/unfair-competition-prevention-act/art-24/par-1 (e-Gov law ID 405AC0000000047) - 刑事訴訟法 第二百八十五条第二項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-285/par-2 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第二項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-2 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第三項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-3 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第四項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-4 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条第五項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291/par-5 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十一条の二第一項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-291-2/par-1 - 刑事訴訟法 第二百九十二条第一項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-292/par-1 - 刑事訴訟法 第三百五十条の七第一項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-350-7/par-1 - 刑事訴訟法 第三百五十条の二十二第一項 — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-350-22/par-1 --- ## Sources - claude-opus-5-5 — Corrections to the Ministry of Justice's English of the Code of Criminal Procedure, written 2026-11-06 - e-Gov 法令検索, Digital Agency (デジタル庁) — 刑事訴訟法 — the text in force from 2026-10-20 (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20261020_508AC0000000067), retrieved 2026-11-06 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法), Article 291, paragraph (2) — the Ministry of Justice's English as printed (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06 - Japanese Law Translation Database System, Ministry of Justice (法務省) — Code of Criminal Procedure — Ministry of Justice translation (part 1 of 2) (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb), retrieved 2026-11-06 - claude-sonnet-5-5 — Machine translation, batch code-of-criminal-procedure-20261106T054114-010, translated 2026-11-06 - This site's parser, version 225 — 刑事訴訟法 — structure, counts, cross-references and defined terms, computed 2026-11-06