def string_array_to_list(a):
    """
    Turns the Java string array into Python unicode string list.

    :param a: the string array to convert
    :type a: JB_Object
    :return: the string list
    :rtype: list
    """
    result = []
    length = javabridge.get_env().get_array_length(a)
    wrapped = javabridge.get_env().get_object_array_elements(a)
    for i in range(length):
        result.append(javabridge.get_env().get_string(wrapped[i]))
    return result