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NEWS

ICU Student Wins Japan Cup International Law Mock Trial Competition 2022 in Japan

Update: August 5, 2022

From left to right: Aoi Watanabe, Aya Osawa, Utako Kawakami, Tsubasa HattoriFrom left to right: Aoi Watanabe, Aya Osawa, Utako Kawakami, Tsubasa Hattori

Aya Osawa (major: Law, minor: Development Studies), Utako Kawakami (major: Law and Sociology), Aoi Watanabe (major: International Relations), and Tsubasa Hattori (major: Law and Sociology), all third-year students at International Christian University, attended the Japan Cup International Law Moot Court Competition 2022 held in Japan on July 1 and 2 (sponsored by the International Law Student Exchange Conference and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Asahi Shimbun). They participated representing ICU, with Ms. Watanabe winning 4th place as a pleading defendant, Ms. Kawakami 9th place as a pleading plaintiff, and Ms. Osawa 10th place as a pleading defendant.

In addition to ICU, Otaru University of Commerce, Osaka University, Japan Coast Guard Academy, Kyoto University, Sophia University, Tokyo Keizai University, University of Tokyo, Doshisha University, Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Hosei University, Yokohama City University, Rikkyo University, and Waseda University participated in the tournament. While the traditionally strong teams consisted of about 10 to 30 members, our university boldly participated with only four members and achieved a strong result.

In the moot court competition, participants prepare legal arguments from the standpoints of both plaintiffs and defendants based on detailed literature research on a fictional interstate dispute based on a real-life case. The skills acquired through the moot court are expected to contribute significantly to the peaceful resolution of international disputes.

At ICU, Associate Professor Hiromichi Matsuda has received a grant from the Japan International Christian Foundation (JICUF), based in New York, to conduct the "International Active Learning in Law for Peace and Human Rights (International Active Learning in Law for Peace and Human Rights)" program. Active Learning in Law for Peace and Human Rights" project, funded by the New York-based Japan International Christian Foundation (JICUF).

 

Students Comments:

Aya Osawa:
​​There is something just so captivating about moot court competitions. The sheer act of reading through legislations, treaties, case laws, commentary by established legal scholars, and writing up an entire memorial of our argument, and then bringing those written works to the stage in the form of oral pleadings is something that requires a certain level of commitment, mentally, physically and time-wise. Yet, I feel that I have gained life-long knowledge and ability through this process.

Reflecting back, JAPAN Cup 2022 International Law Moot Court Competition has been my third time participating in a moot court competition. However, it has been a sequence of new findings and learnings. In particular, it was my first time writing the memorials and delivering the oral pleadings in Japanese; hence, I was challenged to understand and apply international law in English and Japanese. As a student majoring in Law at ICU, a liberal arts university, I believe that international law moot court competition is an opportunity to put classroom learning into practice. Thus, I am sincerely grateful to Professor Matsuda for providing such an opportunity, the three members who really "fought" till the end of the competition, and all the people who made this competition possible.

Utako Kawakami:
It is claimed by many that international law is not effectively binding and thus is rather too complex and fragile. However, it will always remain the "world's rulebook" until international law ceases to exist. Through this competition, I recognized the need to examine and study international law more, especially now that there are questions about its significance.

Also, compared to domestic law, international law is highly abstract. We must consider many things when looking at a single provision or case; past cases, historical background, interests of the countries, consideration toward any other cultural or ethnic factors, etc. Thus, the preparation process for international moot court competitions is never easy. However, at the same time, the process is so interesting, inspiring me to continue an inclusive and practical approach to learning.

Tsubasa Hattori:
Through this experience, I felt the appeal of the liberal arts. At the competition, where law students from other universities and students in seminars specializing in international law gathered, ICU was represented by an international relations major. Although I am now a double major in law and sociology, I used to think of majoring in business administration until my sophomore year of college. I had just begun studying law about six months ago, having no experience learning international law. Despite our unique background, we were able to compete at the national level. This is something to be proud of.

Through this experience, I realized that the essence of the study is not in the "choice" of what to learn but in the "acquisition and mastery" of what and how to learn. Liberal arts is the form that embodies an ideal education that is not bound by the barriers of choice. Law is a fascinating subject that allows us to think about a wide range of topics, from philosophical concepts such as "human rights", "equality", and "freedom" to various everyday situations, and gives us hints for deciphering our complex world. I am grateful for the learning I have now in the ICU, and I look forward to studying more about law and other subjects.

Aoi Watanabe:
Although the problem dealt in the moot court competition is only fictional, they are all difficult yet interesting issues that have some connection to what should be addressed in the real world. Moot court competition, in which participants challenge the issues and their opponents with their own words, allows them to experience real-world international issues from the perspective of law, and I believe this alone is of great significance to this event.

I participated in the competition as an International Relations major, but I am honored that I was able to place 4th in the defendant's speech in my first competition. The preparation process was exhausting, but the sense of accomplishment and fulfillment I gained from it is irreplaceable. Moot court competition may sound somewhat intimidating, but I think that anyone who is willing to think logically, such as ICU students, is well suited for the challenge.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the three students who were with me throughout this wild ride, and to Professor Matsuda for his kind support throughout the competition.

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