Statutes on ExcellentWiki - Legal Encyclopedia

The Japanese Civil Code — Overview

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The Japanese Civil Code (Minpō, Act No. 89 of 1896; Act No. 9 of 1898) is the foundational instrument of Japanese private law. Modelled principally on the first draft of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch) and the French Code civil, it was enacted in three phases over two years: Books I–III (General Provisions, Real Rights, Obligations) in 1896, and Books IV–V (Family, Succession) in 1898. The Code entered into force on 16 July 1898.

The Japanese Penal Code — Overview

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The Penal Code (Keihō, Act No. 45 of 1907, effective 1 October 1908) is Japan’s principal criminal statute. It replaced the “Old Penal Code” (Kyū Keihō) of 1880, which had been drafted under French influence by Gustave Boissonade. The 1907 Code adopted a German-oriented structure and approach while incorporating distinctive features that reflect Japan’s legal traditions. The Code has been extensively amended, most notably in 1995 (the language modernisation), 2004–2007 (the revision of sexual offences), 2017 (the introduction of the conspiracy offence and the reform of sexual offences), and 2023 (the raising of the age of consent and the redefinition of sexual offences as non-consensual rather than forcible).

The Companies Act of Japan — Overview

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The Companies Act (Kaisha Hō, Act No. 86 of 2005, effective 1 May 2006) is Japan’s primary corporate statute. It consolidated and modernised the corporate provisions formerly contained in Book II of the Commercial Code (Shōhō, 1899) and introduced a comprehensive framework for the organisation, governance, finance, and restructuring of Japanese corporations. The Act was the product of a reform process that began in the late 1990s, driven by the need to revitalise Japanese corporate finance, to improve corporate governance in the wake of the financial crisis, and to align Japanese company law with international standards.

The Civil Execution Act (Japan)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The Civil Execution Act (Minji Shikkō Hō, Act No. 4 of 1979, effective 1 October 1980) is Japan’s comprehensive statute governing the enforcement of civil judgments and other enforceable instruments. It replaced the execution provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure (1890), which had remained largely unchanged since the Meiji era. The Act was a landmark in Japanese procedural law, consolidating and rationalising the enforcement system into a single legislative instrument.

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Japan)

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

The Code of Criminal Procedure (Keiji Soshō Hō, Act No. 131 of 1948, effective 1 January 1949) is Japan’s primary procedural statute for the investigation, prosecution, trial, and appeal of criminal offences. It replaced the pre-war Code of Criminal Procedure of 1922, which had been modelled on the German Strafprozessordnung. The 1948 Code was enacted during the Allied Occupation and reflects substantial American influence, particularly in the introduction of the warrant requirement, the right to counsel, the privilege against self-incrimination, and an adversarial trial structure. At the same time, the Code retains features of the continental inquisitorial tradition, including the active role of the judge in examining evidence and the extensive use of written documentary evidence.