Japan youth legal and police outreach

In late July 2026, Japanese authorities expanded summer outreach programs aimed at educating children about the nation’s public‑safety and judicial institutions. On July 28, the Iwate Prefectural Police opened its facilities to around 40 elementary and middle‑school students, who observed an emergency‑call centre, practiced a simulated kidnapping call, and learned about riot‑police equipment. A few days later the Ministry of Justice held a “Child Kasumigaseki Observation Day,” letting participants role‑play prosecutors in a mock theft interrogation.

Two days afterwards the Ministry, together with the Judicial Education Support Association, launched a broader educational event for middle‑ and high‑school students at Clark International High School. The program featured a mock trial with a sitting judge explaining courtroom procedures, sentencing, and the judge’s role, as well as tours of a real courtroom, mock interrogations, and a panel discussion where a female prosecutor spoke about career choices and judicial independence. About 65 students took part, reflecting a scaling up of the outreach effort and a deeper focus on the workings of Japan’s justice system.

Overall, the initiatives illustrate a coordinated push by Japan’s police and justice ministries to provide hands‑on learning experiences for young citizens, increasing both the number of participants and the depth of courtroom simulations within a short period.