Japan
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government
- CONSTITUTION
- May 3, 1947
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on the German model with Anglo-American influences; review of legislative acts by the Supreme Court
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, House of Councillors (Sangi-in) and House of Representatives (Shugi-in)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (president appointed by the King on the recommendation of the Government, others appointed by the Government)
RELIGIONS
majority of Buddhists and Shintoists; minorities of Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox
From the country
SEPTEMBER 17, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: CHIBA URGES DEATH PENALTY DEBATE
New Japanese Justice Minister Keiko Chiba said she will deal carefully with death penalty cases and called for a wide-ranging debate on whether capital punishment should be abolished.
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN CONTINUES TO EXECUTE MENTALLY ILL PRISONERS
The government of Japan continues to execute prisoners who are mentally ill,
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH PENALTY IN GUNMA BAR SHOOTINGS
in Japan, the Tokyo High Court upheld a lower court decision to sentence a gangster...
- JULY 31, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: HAYAKAWA'S DEATH SENTENCE FINAL
the Japanese Supreme Court finalised the death sentence of a former member of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult after rejecting his appeal, sources said.
JULY 28, 2009ChinaDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: THREE EXECUTED FOR MULTIPLE MURDERS
Japan hanged three inmates convicted of multiple murders including a Chinese national
- JULY 22, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
WOMAN ON JAPANESE DEATH-ROW ASKS FOR RETRIAL
a Japanese housewife sentenced to death for killing four people and poisoning 63 with arsenic-laced curry more than a decade ago asked for a retrial, a court official said.
- JULY 17, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON EX-AUM FOLLOWER
the Japanese Supreme Court upheld the death sentence given to a former senior member...
- JULY 10, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: TOP COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE ON GANGSTER FOR KILLING 4 IN SHOOTING
the Japanese Supreme Court upheld a man’s death sentence for killing a rival gang
- JUNE 9, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN OVER 2003 MURDERS
Japan's Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Mitsunori Onogawa, 32, sentenced to death over two separate murders in Gunma Prefecture in 2003.
- JUNE 5, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
DEATH SENTENCES UPHELD FOR DOG BREEDER, EX-WIFE OVER QUADRUPLE MURDER
the Japanese Supreme Court upheld death sentences for a dog breeder and his ex-wife, who were convicted of murdering four people in 1993 and mutilating and dumping the victims' bodies.
- MAY 29, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPANESE MAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING SEVEN
the Kobe District Court in Japan sentenced to death a 52-year-old man for murdering seven relatives and neighbours.
- MAY 21, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTY
JAPAN: POPULAR JURIES RETURN TO TRIALS AFTER 66 YEARS
Japan reintroduced popular juries in penal trials after a break of 66 years. This aligned