Victims may attend hearings on criminal cases, which are held on fixed dates in open courts. Information is provided to victims in other ways, such as notification of the result, etc. , of disposition of cases and disclosure of the final record of a criminal trial.
(1)Systems of notification to complainants and victims, etc.
  When a public prosecutor has instituted public prosecution or made a disposition of non-prosecution on a case for which a complaint was made, he or she shall notify the complainant to that effect. In the case of non-prosecution, the public prosecutor shall inform the complainant of the reasons for the disposition when so requested.
  In addition, a system of notification to victims, etc. , was introduced in1991to inform certain persons, including victims, of the results of disposition and trial in the cases concerned. A uniform notification system for victims was introduced nationwide in April1999. The system covers cases in which victims have been killed and other serious cases, as well as cases for which public prosecutors, etc. , have interviewed the victims. Victims in such cases are asked if they wish to receive notification on the cases concerned. Notification shall be made if the victims express such a wish or specifically request information. The notification includes the result of disposition on the case, the dates fixed for public trial and the result of judgment, among others. At the request of the victims, etc. , a summary of facts charged, principal reasons for non-institution of prosecution, the progress of a public trial, and other information may also be included in the notification.
  As for the police, a Victims Liaison System was introduced in July1996to provide crime victims and others with information related to criminal investigation. In March1999,a Bill for Partial Amendment to the Juvenile Law, etc. , was submitted to the Diet. The Bill would have required family courts that make final adjudication on cases involving juvenile offenders to notify the names and addresses of the juveniles and their legal representatives, when so requested by the victims except when such notification is deemed unsuitable due to the risk of preventing the sound development of the juveniles. Although discussion on the Bill was to be resumed in the next session of the Diet, it never came to fruition as the House of Representatives was dissolved in June2000.
(2)Inspection of criminal case records, etc.
  The inspection of final records on criminal cases is permitted in principle. In addition, the Law concerning Measures Accompanying Criminal Proceedings to Protect Crime Victims, etc. , provides that courts with jurisdiction over criminal cases may allow victims to inspect or copy the record of the trial on the case in question prior to final adjudication, if the victims request such inspection or copying between the date fixed for the first public trial and the final adjudication, provided that the courts find sufficient grounds to grant the request.
  Although records of non-prosecution shall not be disclosed in principle, they may be disclosed when deemed appropriate to protect the public interest or for other reasons. Consideration for crime victims and measures for their protection have now become priority issues, as social interest in the problems faced by crime victims has increased in recent years. In view of this, the Ministry of Justice has developed a new guideline for disclosure of the records of non-prosecution to victims. According to this guideline, the inspection or copying of objective evidence that is not deemed substitutive(including on-the-spot investigation reports, photographic reports and post-mortem reports)shall be allowed, to the extent that such inspection does not disrupt criminal investigation on related cases or the proceedings of public trials, or result in an invasion of the privacy of any persons concerned, provided that such inspection or copying is deemed necessary for the victims to exercise their right to claim compensation or other rights in civil lawsuits for the reparation of damage.