# Article 304-2, paragraph (1), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure

This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-304-2/par-1. 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 304-2, paragraph (1) (第三百四条の二第一項) 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 304-2, paragraph (1) (第三百四条の二第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-304-2/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-304-2/par-1)
- 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:

> 裁判所は、証人を尋問する場合において、証人が被告人の面前（第百五十七条の五第一項に規定する措置を採る場合並びに第百五十七条の六第一項及び第二項に規定する方法による場合を含む。）においては圧迫を受け充分な供述をすることができないと認めるときは、弁護人が出頭している場合に限り、検察官及び弁護人の意見を聴き、その証人の供述中被告人を退廷させることができる。この場合には、供述終了後被告人を入廷させ、これに証言の要旨を告知し、その証人を尋問する機会を与えなければならない。

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

> When a court examines a witness and finds that the witness feels pressure and is unable to give sufficient testimony in the presence of the defendant (including cases when the measures provided in Article 157-5, paragraph (1) or the means provided in Article 157-6, paragraph (1) or (2) are taken), the court may have the defendant leave the courtroom during the testimony of the witness, after hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defense counsel, only when the defense counsel is present. In this case, after the witness has testified, the court must have the defendant enter the courtroom, notify the defendant of an outline of the testimony and give the defendant an opportunity to examine the witness.

## 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:

> 裁判所は、証人を尋問する場合において、証人が被告人の面前（第百五十七条の五第一項に規定する措置を採る場合及び映像と音声の送受信により相手の状態を相互に認識しながら通話をすることができる方法による場合を含む。）においては圧迫を受け充分な供述をすることができないと認めるときは、弁護人が出頭している場合に限り、検察官及び弁護人の意見を聴き、その証人の供述中被告人を退廷させることができる。この場合には、供述終了後被告人を入廷させ、これに証言の要旨を告知し、その証人を尋問する機会を与えなければならない。

English (Machine translation, not official):

> When a court examines a witness and finds that the witness feels pressure and is unable to give sufficient testimony in the presence of the defendant (including cases when the measures provided in Article 157-5, paragraph (1) are taken and cases using means that allows the recognition of each other's presence and communication through the transmission of images and sound), the court may have the defendant leave the courtroom during the testimony of the witness, after hearing the opinions of the public prosecutor and the defense counsel, only when the defense counsel is present. In this case, after the witness has testified, the court must have the defendant enter the courtroom, notify the defendant of an outline of the testimony and give the defendant an opportunity to examine the witness.

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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)