# Article 40, paragraph (1), its wordings — Code of Criminal Procedure This is the Markdown twin of https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/history/art-40/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 40, paragraph (1) (第四十条第一項) 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 40, paragraph (1) (第四十条第一項) — https://japanlaw.org/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-40/par-1 (as Markdown: https://japanlaw.org/md/en/code-of-criminal-procedure/art-40/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: > 弁護人は、公訴の提起後は、裁判所において、訴訟に関する書類（刑事確定訴訟記録法（昭和六十二年法律第六十四号）第二条第一項に規定する訴訟の記録（訴訟終結後のものに限る。）を含む。第四十七条を除き、以下同じ。）及び証拠物を閲覧し、及び謄写することができる。ただし、証拠物を謄写するについては、裁判長の許可を受けなければならない。 English (Machine translation, not official): > A defense counsel may, after the institution of prosecution, inspect and copy documents relating to the trial (including the records of litigation prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Final Criminal Case Records (Act No. 64 of 1987) (limited to those after the conclusion of the trial); the same applies hereinafter except in Article 47) and articles of evidence in a court; provided, however, that the defense counsel must obtain permission from the presiding judge when copying the articles of evidence. ## 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: > 弁護人は、公訴の提起後は、裁判所において、訴訟に関する書類（電磁的記録（電子的方式、磁気的方式その他人の知覚によつては認識することができない方式で作られる記録であつて、電子計算機による情報処理の用に供されるものをいう。以下同じ。）を含む。以下同じ。）（刑事確定訴訟記録法（昭和六十二年法律第六十四号）第二条第一項に規定する訴訟の記録（訴訟終結後のものに限る。）を含む。第四十七条を除き、以下同じ。）及び証拠物（電磁的記録であるものを含む。第九十九条第一項、第百十九条、第二百三条第一項、第二百四十二条、第二百四十六条、第二百五十八条、第三百六条及び第三百七条を除き、以下同じ。）を閲覧し、及び謄写することができる。この場合において、当該訴訟に関する書類又は証拠物の全部又は一部が電磁的記録であるときは、当該電磁的記録の閲覧は、その内容を表示したものを閲覧し、又はその内容を再生したものを視聴する方法によるものとし、当該電磁的記録の謄写は、これを複写し、若しくは印刷し、又はその内容を表示し若しくは再生したものを記載し若しくは記録する方法によるものとする。 English (Machine translation, not official): > A defense counsel may, after the institution of prosecution, inspect and copy documents relating to the trial (including electronic or magnetic records (meaning records made in an electronic form, a magnetic form or any other form that cannot be perceived by human senses and that are used for information processing by computers; the same applies hereinafter); the same applies hereinafter) (including the records of litigation prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (1) of the Act on Final Criminal Case Records (Act No. 64 of 1987) (limited to those after the conclusion of the trial); the same applies hereinafter except in Article 47) and articles of evidence (including those that are electronic or magnetic records; the same applies hereinafter except in Article 99, paragraph (1), Article 119, Article 203, paragraph (1), Article 242, Article 246, Article 258, Article 306 and Article 307) in a court. In this case, when all or part of the documents relating to the trial or the articles of evidence are electronic or magnetic records, the inspection of the electronic or magnetic record is to be by means of inspecting what displays its contents or viewing and listening to what reproduces its contents, and the copying of the electronic or magnetic record is to be by means of duplicating or printing it, or writing or recording what displays or reproduces its contents. --- ## 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)