The story centers on the life of Kawata Yoshio, an eccentric judge. The popularity of the series seems to stem from both the good-natured wisdom of its hero, Judge Kawata, and the glimpse it offers of Japan's judicial system as it deals with current social issues ranging from divorce to substance abuse.

Kasai no Hito had two chapters published in English in the educational publication Mangajin from March to April 1996 (issues #53 and #54).