Tort Law in Japan

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

Overview and Sources

Japanese tort law is governed principally by Book V of the Civil Code (Minpo), Articles 709 through 724. The Civil Code was enacted in 1896 and drew heavily from the French Civil Code and the first draft of the German Civil Code, but its tort provisions have since developed a distinct doctrinal character through decades of judicial interpretation and statutory supplementation. Article 709, the general tort provision, provides that “[a] person who has intentionally or negligently infringed the rights or legally protected interests of another shall be liable for damages arising from such infringement.” This formulation, amended in 2004, expanded the scope of protection from “rights” to include “legally protected interests,” thereby codifying the expansive interpretation that the Supreme Court had already adopted in practice.

Tort Law on ExcellentWiki - Legal Encyclopedia

Tort Law in Japan

Overview and Sources