1. Legal System
1.1 Legal System and Judicial Order
In general, Japan is a civil law jurisdiction. Most of
Japan's modern legal systems are based on continental European
civil law systems. However, the end of World War II also saw the
introduction of some Anglo-American legal influences.
Under the Constitution, judicial power is held by the courts,
which are expressly guaranteed as being independent from other
branches of the government. The Japanese court system can broadly
be categorised into three tiers, as follows.
- In the first tier, district courts are the main court of first
instance for most cases. However, summary courts may act as the
court of first instance for small civil claims and minor criminal
offences. This tier also broadly includes family courts, which hear
family and juvenile delinquency matters. District courts also act
as the first level of appeal for some summary court matters.
