Fuck the Supreme Court

Ah, Japan. The land of sushi, punctual trains, and a political system that sometimes feels like it’s stuck in neutral. One of the great features of democracy, of course, is the idea that the people get to have a say in how things are run. And in Japan, there’s a little-known mechanism for that: the kokumin shinsa (国民審査), or the national review of Supreme Court justices. In theory, this gives the people a chance to "evaluate" the performance of the justices. In practice? Well, let's just say it’s about as effective as trying to boil water with a candle.

The Reality of the Kokumin Shinsa

If you’ve ever voted in Japan, you’ve probably seen the Supreme Court review ballot. It’s that slip of paper you get at election time with a bunch of names you’ve never heard of, all of them Supreme Court justices. The instructions? Simple. Put an X next to the names of justices you want to remove from office. But here’s the catch: most people don’t know who these justices are, let alone what kind of rulings they’ve made. It’s like being asked to judge a baking contest without tasting any of the cakes.

What happens in reality is that voters either leave the ballot blank or, perhaps out of some misguided sense of civility, just let them all stay. No X’s. No dismissals. It’s a clean sweep for the judiciary every time, which makes you wonder—what’s the point of this charade?

How Other Countries Do It

In countries like the United States, the process for selecting Supreme Court justices is a national event. You get grand debates, news coverage that rivals a royal wedding, and public hearings where every detail of the nominees' lives and political leanings are dissected. Everyone knows who they are, what they stand for, and how their rulings could shape the future of the country.

In Japan? Not so much. Nobody really knows these justices unless they’ve handed down a particularly controversial ruling. And even then, it barely makes a dent in the news cycle. You’re more likely to read about the latest ramen craze than about what’s happening in the Supreme Court.

What’s the Point of the Kokumin Shinsa, Then?

In theory, the kokumin shinsa exists to allow the public to hold the judiciary accountable. It’s the only real check the public has on the highest court in the land. But without any information, how are we supposed to judge? It’s like giving someone a hammer and telling them to fix a car. Sure, they have the tool, but they have no idea what to do with it.

Can We Fix This?

Here’s a thought: how about we actually get some information? Maybe a nice little booklet with each justice's notable rulings, their legal philosophy, and their stance on key issues. Something. Anything. Give us a reason to care, and maybe the national review wouldn’t just be a meaningless exercise.

But let’s be real. This is Japan. Change comes slowly here. The chances of the kokumin shinsa being reformed into something meaningful are about as likely as Mount Fuji erupting tomorrow. So in the meantime, what’s a voter to do?

Time to Cross Some Boxes

That’s right, I’m crossing all the boxes. Every single one. Why? Because if I’m being asked to decide on the fate of these justices with zero information, I’m going to make my voice heard. No information? No votes of confidence. Let’s shake things up a bit. Maybe, just maybe, if enough of us start crossing boxes, they’ll realize the system needs fixing. Until then, fuck the Supreme Court.