Introduction

Currently I am lecturing public international law at a Japanese university and my main research interest is in the field of international criminal law. The definition of international criminal law itself can be a subject of research. As a branch of public international law, international criminal law is no exception in that it lacks any systematic definition. The notion of international crime regulated by international criminal law is not crystal clear. International criminal law has been a rapidly evolving field especially since the end of the Cold War. International criminal law is a subject which enables international community to hold individuals accountable under international law. Such a notion contributes to the rule of international law in the international community. The rule of law in the international community, instead of the rule of force, is needless to say very important for a country like Japan, a peace-loving nation.

Recently, my research specifically focuses on prosecutorial discretion and legitimacy of international criminal justice. A problem of prosecutorial discretion is well known both in domestic and international criminal justice. The Prosecutor of the permanent International Criminal Court is in a particularly difficult position, for he/she must scrutinize situations and cases among the most serious crimes committed across the world. My research attempts to clarify how to ensure fair and impartial exercise of prosecutorial discretion and to identify indicators of legitimacy of international criminal justice which certainly involves proper exercise of prosecutorial discretion. I do research mainly in Japanese, but I occasionally try to present a paper at an international conference.

Since my university opened a new course on risk management in the department of law, I also study global risk and global risk management through international law.

This post is available in: 日本語