The news provides a deep dive into the issues faced by Japan's on-call duty lawyers, who are called upon at any time to represent defendants with inadequate representation. The article highlights the difficulties these lawyers go through due to long hours, low payment and shortage of resources, while interrogating the effectiveness of Japan's legal system that allows for such a situation.

In Japan, the rights of defendants, especially those who cannot afford legal representation, are a societal priority. Duty lawyers, often considered the "unsung heroes" of the legal system, bear an immense social responsibility. However, Japan's legal system has been criticised for not giving due importance to the high-stress lifestyle and low income that comes with this role.

In contrast, the US and EU have structured public defender systems in place to ensure defendants have access to representation. Lawyers generally work in teams, share caseloads and have more resources available. This results in a more sustainable working model and reflects the importance given to the legal rights of the accused in these regions.