61374    It is our hope to contribute to the humanitarian international cooperation that transcends borders while always keeping in mind the suffering of the Minamata Disease victims.

61375    In advance of the intergovernmental cooperation, we wish to make special mention of the private organizations and citizens who made explorations into the Amazon and getting a head-start on investigations and research, including Masazumi Harada, Assistant Professor at the University of Kumamoto, Tadashi Fujino MD of the Minamata Kyoritsu Hospital, Junko Nakanishi, Professor at the Center for Environmental Safety in the University of Tokyo, the National Liaison Conference of Minamata Disease Victims and Defense Counsel, and other concerned parties.

61376    The activities of non-governmental organizations are also alive and well in Japan.

61377    Following the line, "To be or not to be: that is the question," Shakespeare's "Hamlet" enumerates unbearable nightmares with one of them being "the law's delay."

61378    Delayed court cases are serious problems in all ages.

61379    To say that the degree of such delays in Japan is pathological is not an overstatement.

61380    In its report, "Pathology and Prescription for Modern Japanese Society," the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) has also brought up the lengthening of trials in addition to its costs, pointing out that "the Japanese judicial system is not fulfilling its primary function and even its raison d'etre is now fading away."

61381    Delayed court cases accelerate people's detachment from the law and, furthermore, it will become a significant obstacle to safeguard "the right of access to court."

61382    "The Association of Volunteers from the Japan Federation of Bar Association to Discuss the Number of Legal Professionals" is studying the length of trials.

61383    According to their findings, of the first trials of civil suits that required the examination of evidence, only 13 percent of them reached a verdict within one year, with the overall average trial period being 27 months, and even 26 months for out-of-court settlements.

61384    A long trial does not mean that it is done to the full.

61385    On average, there were only seven oral arguments and the time required for taking of evidence was four hours in total.

61386    It takes too long for so little.

61387    In the case of appeals and final appeals, one must expect an additional two or three years.

61388    If trials drag on like this, they would be virtually of no use to people seeking a practical remedy.