# Article 157-6, paragraph (4), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-157-6/par-4. 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.

How the wording of Article 157-6, paragraph (4) (第百五十七条の六第四項) changed with each amendment, and how it will change.

- Law: Code of Criminal Procedure (刑事訴訟法) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure
- Provision: Article 157-6, paragraph (4) (第百五十七条の六第四項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-157-6/par-4 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-157-6/par-4)
- The law's amendments: https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/amendments
- 2 wordings, oldest first.

## 1. Before Act No. 39 of 2025

- State: In force

Japanese:

> 第一項又は第二項に規定する方法により証人尋問を行う場合（同項第五号から第八号までの規定による場合を除く。）において、裁判所は、その証人が後の刑事手続において同一の事実につき再び証人として供述を求められることがあると思料する場合であつて、証人の同意があるときは、検察官及び被告人又は弁護人の意見を聴き、その証人の尋問及び供述並びにその状況を記録媒体（映像及び音声を同時に記録することができるものに限る。）に記録することができる。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> In the examination of a witness using the means provided in paragraph (1) or (2) (excluding the case of examination pursuant to the provisions of items (v) through (viii) of that paragraph), when it is considered that the witness will be requested to testify on the same facts again in another criminal procedure thereafter, and the consent of the witness is obtained, the court may, after hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel, record the examination and testimony of and the circumstances surrounding the witness on a recording medium (limited to that capable of recording images and sound simultaneously).

## 2. By 31 March 2027 — Act No. 39 of 2025

- State: Not yet in force
- Takes effect: By 31 March 2027
- The amendment: Reworded (Act No. 39 of 2025) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/amendments/20270331_507AC0000000039

Japanese:

> 第一項又は第二項に規定する方法により証人尋問を行う場合（同項第五号から第八号までの規定による場合を除く。）において、裁判所は、その証人が後の刑事手続において同一の事実につき再び証人として供述を求められることがあると思料する場合であつて、証人の同意があるときは、検察官及び被告人又は弁護人の意見を聴き、その証人の尋問及び供述並びにその状況を録音及び録画を同時に行う方法により電磁的記録として記録し、これをファイルに記録することができる。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> In the examination of a witness using the means provided in paragraph (1) or (2) (excluding the case of examination pursuant to the provisions of items (v) through (viii) of that paragraph), when it is considered that the witness will be requested to testify on the same facts again in another criminal procedure thereafter, and the consent of the witness is obtained, the court may, after hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defendant or the defense counsel, record the examination and testimony of and the circumstances surrounding the witness as an electronic or magnetic record by the method of simultaneously making an audio recording and a video recording, and record it in the file.

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## Sources

- The dates and the amending laws: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131)
- English name of the law: Japanese Law Translation, Ministry of Justice (https://www.japaneselawtranslation.go.jp/en/laws/view/3739/tb)
- English titles of the amending laws: Written for this site with AI
- The Japanese text before: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20261020_508AC0000000067)
- The Japanese text after: e-Gov (Digital Agency) (https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000131/20270331_507AC0000000039)