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#70 - An Interview with Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama
11/21/2024
#70 - An Interview with Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama
In this episode of Justice Speaks, we return to the field of Therapeutic Jurisprudence, interviewing Dr. Yasuhiro Maruyama, a distinguished professor of criminal justice at in Tokyo. Dr. Maruyama begins by recounting his early academic interests and his first exposure to Drug Courts in the United States. His initial study of Drug Courts as a young student led him to the U.S., where he observed problem-solving courts firsthand. In the U.S., he formed bonds with notable figures in the field, including whom he affectionately considers his “American mother.” Her mentorship helped shape his dedication to understanding the application and impact of Therapeutic Jurisprudence globally. The discussion then shifts to Dr. Maruyama’s areas of focus within Japanese criminology, including the contrasting policies Japan employs toward criminal punishment and support for vulnerable populations. He describes what he calls a “bipolarization” in Japan’s criminal justice system, where harsh penalties coexist with newer rehabilitative measures aimed at helping individuals such as juveniles, the elderly, drug users, and those with developmental disorders. Despite these advancements, Dr. Maruyama notes a significant lack of support for these populations, especially when compared to treatment-oriented approaches in other nations. Dr. Maruyama also discusses Japan’s unique “lay judge” system, where citizen judges participate alongside professional judges in serious criminal cases. Unlike jury systems in the United States, Japanese lay judges help determine both guilt and sentencing. He notes that Japan’s judicial philosophy emphasizes punishment based solely on past actions, contrasting with the U.S., where preventive detention may be applied. This approach, influenced by historical experiences from World War II, prioritizes punishment only after crimes have occurred, reflecting Japan’s commitment to avoiding preemptive punitive measures.
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