Legal Problems of Fighting Piracy: The Japanese Perspective

I. Introduction: Enactment of Japan’s Anti-Piracy Act | II. Main Provisions of the Anti-Piracy Act | III. Purposes of the Anti-Piracy Act | IV. Definition of ‘Acts of Piracy’ in the Anti-Piracy Act | 1. Importance of ‘Private Ends’ and Universal Jurisdiction Clauses | 2. Differences from the Definition of Article 100 of the UNCLOS | a) More Detailed and Concrete Specification of the Acts of Piracy | b) Sea Areas and the Acts of Piracy under the Anti-Piracy Act | c) Exclusion of the Act of Piracy by Airplanes | V. Anti-Piracy Measures Undertaken by the JCG and the SDF | 1. Competence of the JCG | 2. Competence of the SDF | 3. JCG and the SDF in the Operations against Acts of Piracy | VI. Use of Arms | 1. Use of Arms by Officers and Assistant Officers of the JCG and in the Course of their Operations against Acts of Piracy | 2. Use of Arms by the SDF Officers | 3. Use of Arms by the JCG Officers and by the SDF Officers | VII. Apprehension and the Transfer of Suspects | 1. Competence of JCG Officers for Apprehension or Arrest | 2. Treatment of Suspects | 3. Transfer of Criminals by the US Navy to Japan and Emerging Problems | VIII. Concluding Remarks