# Article 256, paragraph (4), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-256/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 256, paragraph (4) (第二百五十六条第四項) 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 256, paragraph (4) (第二百五十六条第四項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-256/par-4 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-256/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:

> 罪名は、適用すべき罰条を示してこれを記載しなければならない。但し、罰条の記載の誤は、被告人の防禦に実質的な不利益を生ずる虞がない限り、公訴提起の効力に影響を及ぼさない。

English (Written for this site with AI, correcting the Ministry of Justice's English):

> The charged offense must be described with applicable penal statutes; provided however, that errors in the enumeration of such statutes do not affect the validity of institution of prosecution as long as there is no fear that they may create any substantial disadvantage to the defense of the defendant.

## 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:

> 罪名は、適用すべき罰条を示してこれを記載しなければならない。ただし、罰条の記載の誤りは、被告人の防御に実質的な不利益を生ずるおそれがない限り、公訴提起の効力に影響を及ぼさない。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> The charged offense must be described with applicable penal statutes; provided however, that errors in the enumeration of such statutes do not affect the validity of institution of prosecution as long as there is no fear that they may create any substantial disadvantage to the defense of the defendant.

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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)