This article examines how a therapeutic perspective on victim participation has been conceptualized and implemented in criminal trials in Japan after procedural reforms in 2000 and 2008. Findings are discussed with reference to therapeutic jurisprudence studies on victim participation and relevant literature on Japanese criminal justice. Analysis of policy documents, survey data, interviews, and minutes of Ministry of Justice “expert meetings” reveals how the therapeutic needs of victims and the therapeutic effects of victim participation in court proceedings have been understood and conceptualized based on generalized common-sense assumptions of legal practitioners. In court, participants’ reference to victims’ wellbeing and recovery puts pressure on judges to impose harsher punishment than usual, while reinforcing the position of prosecutors. The adopted therapeutic perspective, combined with traditionally expected displays of remorse, furthermore has the effect of limiting the defence’s ability to argue facts and circumstances favourable to the defendant.

中文翻译：

---

日本的受害者参与：当治疗法学与检察官司法相遇时

本文探讨了在 2000 年和 2008 年程序改革后，日本刑事审判中如何将受害者参与的治疗观点概念化和实施。参考关于受害者参与的治疗法学研究和有关日本刑事司法的相关文献对研究结果进行了讨论。对政策文件、调查数据、访谈和司法部“专家会议”记录的分析揭示了受害者的治疗需求和受害者参与法庭诉讼的治疗效果是如何根据普遍的常识假设被理解和概念化的法律从业者。在法庭上，参与者提到受害者的福祉和康复给法官施加了比平时更严厉的惩罚的压力，同时加强了检察官的地位。