Japan’s Constitution (Bilingual English Edition) + Audio Download

Product Description

Discover the Constitution of Japan from a fresh, international perspective through its official 1946 English version, newly rendered into clear contemporary language by renowned translator Motoyuki Shibata. By reading Japan’s fundamental law side by side in Japanese and polished English, you can deepen your understanding of its spirit and message while naturally improving your legal and academic English.

This expanded and revised edition (based on the 2015 title “Gendaigoyaku de yomu Nihon no Kenpo”) includes vocabulary notes ideal for language learners, expert supervision of legal terminology by constitutional scholar Sota Kimura, and audio downloads with professional readings in both Japanese (voiced by voice actor Toshihiko Seki) and English. A recorded dialogue between Shibata and Kimura explores how English reveals new aspects of Japan’s Constitution, from the nuances of translating “people” to the intensity of Article 9.

The book also features selected articles of the Constitution of the United States with the original English text, Shibata’s Japanese translation, and commentary by Kimura. This comparative approach helps readers grasp the deeper structure of both constitutions and better understand global news topics such as presidential elections and impeachment trials.