Book excerpt: The present volume inaugurates a new series, The Judges, which collects and synthesizes the opinions of leading international judges of the contemporary era who have contributed significantly to the progressive development of international law. The series is launched with the Judicial Opinions of Shigeru Oda, currently Vice President of the International Court of Justice. The collection of Opinions covers the period from Judge Oda's first election to the International Court in the Autumn of 1975, on to the year 1992. All of the individual Opinions filed by Judge Oda in this period - Separate Opinions, Declarations and Dissenting Opinions - are included, and they are published in full, without editorial cuts. An introductory essay examines the diverse educational and professional influences contributing to Judge Oda's formation as a jurist, from his earliest university years in Japan and in the United States, through his subsequent professional career in universities and government service and at international academic-scientific and diplomatic reunions over the years. The study includes a résumé and analysis of Judge Oda's Judicial Opinions, through the cases, and attempts some identification and synthesis of the main elements in his approach to decision making and opinion writing, as well as the main strands in his judicial philosophy, as demonstrated in the actual case law.