Translation guide
The formal process of bringing a defendant to court to hear and respond to charges. In Japanese legal contexts, this corresponds to the first trial date where charges are read and the defendant enters a plea.
The initial court proceeding where the defendant is formally told the charges and asked to plead.
Literally 'first public trial'. This is the most common term for the first court date in a criminal case, where charges are read and the defendant states their plea.
At the arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
Literally 'confirmation of the indictment'. This describes the procedural step of reading and confirming the charges, but is not a standalone term for the hearing itself.
Japanese criminal procedure does not have a separate 'arraignment' hearing exactly like in the US. The first trial date (初公判) serves a similar function, combining charge reading and plea entry. Avoid literal translations like アレインメント, which are not understood.
At 初公判, the defendant typically states whether they admit or deny the charges. Common phrases: 間違いありません (I admit, literally 'there is no mistake') or 無罪です (I am not guilty).
Literally 'admission or denial of charges'. This refers specifically to the part of the arraignment where the defendant responds to the charges. Often used in legal news.
At the arraignment, the defendant admitted the charges.
The judge conducted the arraignment (confirmation of charges).