Good, realistic Japanese courtroom dramas?
Recommendations appreciated. And if there aren't many from which to choose, I welcome all speculation on why that may be the case.
He had his story and he was sticking to it.
Just like my reply to your question "Any good Japanese prison films?"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057565/board/thread/211915205?d=214709336 &p=1#214709336
I haven't seen most of the movies below,
so this is not actually "recommendation."
And again, these are fairly well known movies in Japan.
Since you asked "realistic" dramas, I excluded comedies.
Some of them are more mystery/thriller than courtroom drama, though.
Yakusoku: Nabari Dokubudôshu Jiken Shikeishû no Shôgai (2012)
[lit. A Promise: The Life of the Death Row Inmate of the Case of the Poisoned Wine Murders in Nabari]
Based on a true story, Tatsuya Nakadai plays the man who was accused of murders in 1961, and sentenced to death,
but has kept denying his guiltiness even today.
A trailer from the official website: http://www.yakusoku-nabari.jp/trailer/
Soredemo Boku wa Yattenai (I Just Didn't Do It) (2007)
English page of the official site: http://www.altamira.jp/soreboku/eng/index.html
A trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PygE33pnQSE
Yureru (Sway) (2006)
A young photographer returns to his home village to attend a memorial service. There he reunites with his older brother and his childhood sweetheart.
The three went to a river just like in their childhood, but the girl fell from the bridge and died.
The older brother is accused of the murder, but what really happened?
a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXz8c6cyO10
39 - Keihô Dai Sanjûkyû jô (Keiho) (1999)
[lit. 39 - Criminal law, the article #39]
The title refers to the article that states no punishment for "non compos mentis."
(I think the English title should be "The Article 39 - non compos mentis.")
As the title suggests, it deals with a murder case where the accused claim he didn't remember anything about it.
a trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mww7O_QleeE
Giwaku (Suspicion) (1982)
A notorious woman is accused of the murder of her rich and older husband, after their car run into a bay.
The media love to bash her and no lawyer wants to defend her.
But one female lawyer takes the case, even though she hates the accused.
(This may sound quite a boring story but it was actually a very well made drama.)
Kuro no Honryû [lit. The Black Torrent] (1972)
A young, ambitious lawyer tries to prove the innocence of a woman who is accused of a murder.
The odds are against her, but he regards this case as an opportunity to prove his ability and achieve fame.
Shônin no Isu [lit. A witness' chair] (1965)
Based on a true story of a murder case in 1953.
When a radio shop owner is murdered, his wife was accused.
After the court sentenced her 13 years in prison,
she chose not to appeal because she had no money to do it.
Her nephew in law tried to clear her name, and
found out the two key witnesses lied in the trial.
But the prosecutors threatened them not to change their testimonies.
Kuro no Hôkokusho (The Black Report) (1963)
When a young prosecutor takes a murder case,
his boss told him to make sure to win the trial,
so that he is moved to Tokyo, the next step to his bright future.
Matsukawa Jiken [lit. The Matsukawa case] (1961)
A dramatization of the trial of the infamous "Matsukawa derailment": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsukawa_derailment
Mahiru no Ankoku (Darkness at Noon) (1956)
For a murder case of an old couple, the police arrested a man named Kojima.
As they believed multiple people committed the crime,
they forced Kojima to tell his accomplices' names.
Exhausted by the severe interrogation, Kojima lied his 3 co-workers did it with him.
BTW, as I saw your message board history, you seem to be interested in legal system depicted in movies.
Is there any particular reson for that?
Are you a law shool student or something?