THE POLYGRAPH DETECTION AND ASSESSMENT METHOD OF DETERMING THE AUTHENTICITY OF A SUSPECT'S STATEMENT THROUGH PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE IS CONSIDERED TO BE VALID IN CRIME INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED BY JAPANESE POLICE. IN 1964, THE SUPREME COURT OF JAPAN ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION REPORT HAD PROBATIVE FORCE OF EVIDENCE. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXAMINED BY POLYGRAPH IN 1975 WAS ABOUT 4,700. RESULTS WERE POSITIVE IN 41.8 PERCENT OF THE CASES AND NEGATIVE IN 53.2 PERCENT, WITH INCONCLUSIVE RESULTS IN THE REMAINING CASES. NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS WERE ESTABLISHED IN MAY 1971 TO STANDARDIZE THE USE OF THE TECHNIQUE ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS. THE NATIONAL STANDARDS ENCOMPASS RULES RELATING TO PERSONS UNDERGOING POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS, CASES IN WHICH POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS ARE FORBIDDEN, POLYGRAPH DEVICES, AND THE TIME AND PLACE OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS. IT IS UNDERSTOOD IN JAPAN THAT A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION REQUIRES THE USE OF HIGH-LEVEL TECHNIQUES BASED ON TECHNICAL TRAINING, PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, AND KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY. ABOUT 100 POLYGRAPH SPECIALISTS HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO IDENTIFICATION SECTIONS AND CRIME LABORATORIES OF THE PREFECTURAL POLICE HEADQUARTERS OF JAPAN. ALL SPECIALISTS ARE GIVEN SPECIAL TRAINING IN POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION, WITH COURSES IN PSYCHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY. IF FUNDAMENTALS AND RELATED TECHNIQUES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION ARE SCIENTIFICALLY ACKNOWLEDGED, A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION REPORT CAN BE CONSIDERED AS EXPERT EVIDENCE IN JAPANESE COURTS. JUDICIAL PRECEDENTS SUPPORTING THE USE OF A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION IN COURT ARE REVIEWED. TWO EXAMPLES OF CASES IN WHICH POLYGRAPH EXAMINATIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE JAPANESE POLICE ARE CITED. (DP)