This is a rare internal training manual issued in 1939 (Shōwa 14) by the Tokyo District Court Prosecutors’ Office, titled “On the Investigation of Embezzlement Crimes.” The cover is marked “Bugaibi – Confidential, Not for Outside Use,” meaning it was never intended for public circulation, but restricted to prosecutors and police officers.

Although embezzlement had long been codified in the Japanese Penal Code, the late 1930s saw a rapid expansion of military and governmental budgets under the wartime economy. Oversight and accounting systems often lagged behind, creating frequent opportunities for misappropriation. This manual served as a practical guide for prosecutors and judicial police officers on how to detect, prove, and prosecute embezzlement cases, covering procedures such as seizure of evidence, inspection of financial records, and interrogation methods.

📖 Condition

• Heavy aging: discoloration, stains, wear, creases, tears, and edge damage
• Sticker removal trace on inside cover
• Significant wormhole damage affecting text on pp. 57–58 (see photos)
• Overall poor condition even considering age

A truly valuable wartime legal and policing document, offering insight into how the Imperial Japanese judiciary sought to maintain discipline and prevent corruption within its own wartime system. An essential addition for collectors of legal history, wartime justice, or police manuals.