Legal System of Japan

Japan is located in East N Southeast Asia. It is geographically situated in eastern asia, island chain between the north pacific ocean and the sea of japan, east of the korean peninsula. The country achieved independence on 3 may 1947 (current constitution adopted as amendment to meiji constitution); notable earlier dates: 11 february 660 b.c. (mythological date of emperor jimmu founding the nation); 29 november 1890 (meiji constitution provides for constitutional monarchy). The capital is Tokyo.

Government Overview

Government Type: parliamentary constitutional monarchy Chief of State: Emperor NARUHITO (since 1 May 2019) Head of Government: Prime Minister Sanae TAKAICHI (since 21 October 2025) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi National Holiday: Birthday of Emperor NARUHITO, 23 February (1960) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of Japan is described as civil law system based on German model; also reflects Anglo-American influence and Japanese traditions; Supreme Court reviews legislative acts International Law: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: previous 1890; latest approved 6 October 1946, adopted 3 November 1946, effective 3 May 1947 Amendment Process: proposed by the Diet; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority of both houses of the Diet and approval by majority in a referendum

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Supreme Court or Saiko saibansho (consists of the chief justice and 14 associate justices) Judge Selection: Supreme Court chief justice designated by the Cabinet and appointed by the monarch; associate justices appointed by the Cabinet and confirmed by the monarch; all justices are reviewed in a popular referendum during the first general election of the House of Representatives after each judge’s appointment and every 10 years afterward Subordinate Courts: 8 High Courts (Koto-saiban-sho), each with a Family Court (Katei-saiban-sho); 50 District Courts (Chiho saibansho), with 203 additional branches; 438 Summary Courts (Kani saibansho)

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: House of Representatives (Shugiin) (465 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): mixed system Upper Chamber: House of Councillors (Sangiin)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Japan Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

In 1603, after decades of civil warfare, the Tokugawa shogunate (a military-led, dynastic government) ushered in a long period of relative political stability and isolation from foreign influence. For more than two centuries, this policy enabled Japan to enjoy a flowering of its indigenous culture. Japan opened its ports after signing the Treaty of Kanagawa with the US in 1854 and began to intensively modernize and industrialize.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of Japan based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.