# Mayu Kannari Associate Judge, Chiba District Court, Japan ![Headshot of Mayu Kannari.](/sites/g/files/omnuum8416/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/2025-07/kannari-mayu.jpg?h=65656e20&itok=fl7uQqqo) email **Research Project:** Collaboration among Lay and Professional Judges: Lessons from the U.S. for Japan Judge Mayu Kannari received an LL.M. (Master of Laws) from Harvard Law School in 2025 and holds a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Laws from Keio University. Since her judicial appointment in 2021, she has adjudicated a range of criminal and civil cases, including serious criminal trials before panels consisting of both *saiban-in* (lay judges) and professional judges. In addition to her courtroom work, she has engaged in public outreach to promote civic understanding of the judicial system and organized cross-professional workshops to enhance legal practice. Her research focuses on criminal justice reform and lay participation in criminal trials, with an emphasis on improving Japan’s justice system through comparative analysis. - ## People Categories [Associates and Postdoctoral Fellows 2025-26](/2025-26) [Associates](/people-categories/associate)