Structured Lists Directory

INI

Types of Court Cases in Japan - INI

The Japanese court system is fundamentally based on three major types of litigation: civil proceedings to resolve disputes over rights and obligations between individuals and corporations, criminal proceedings to determine guilt or innocence of criminal acts, and administrative proceedings to review complaints against administrative actions by national or local governments. Each follows distinct procedures and trial methods based on the Code of Civil Procedure, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Administrative Case Litigation Act. This classification system, including court types and the three-instance trial system, is essential for understanding Japan's judicial system.

court civil litigation criminal litigation administrative litigation judicial system legal procedure court system 
[item.civil-litigation]
code=CIV
slug=civil-litigation
name=Civil Litigation
description=Proceedings to resolve disputes over rights and obligations between individuals and corporations.
category=Civil Cases
governingLaw=Code of Civil Procedure
parentCode=

[item.ordinary-civil-proceedings]
code=CIV-ORD
slug=ordinary-civil-proceedings
name=Ordinary Civil Proceedings
description=The standard form of civil litigation for general property-related disputes.
category=Types of Civil Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CIV

[item.bill-and-note-action]
code=CIV-BILL
slug=bill-and-note-action
name=Bill and Note Action
description=Special expedited proceedings for claims on bills and checks.
category=Types of Civil Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CIV

[item.small-claims-proceedings]
code=CIV-SML
slug=small-claims-proceedings
name=Small Claims Proceedings
description=Simplified proceedings for monetary claims up to 600,000 yen, usually completed in one hearing.
category=Types of Civil Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CIV

[item.family-proceedings]
code=CIV-FAM
slug=family-proceedings
name=Family Proceedings
description=Proceedings for family-related disputes such as divorce, annulment of marriage, and acknowledgment of children.
category=Types of Civil Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CIV

[item.criminal-litigation]
code=CRIM
slug=criminal-litigation
name=Criminal Litigation
description=Proceedings to determine guilt, innocence, and sentencing for criminal acts.
category=Criminal Cases
governingLaw=Code of Criminal Procedure
parentCode=

[item.formal-trial]
code=CRIM-FORMAL
slug=formal-trial
name=Formal Trial
description=The standard form of criminal trial with evidence examination and arguments in open court.
category=Types of Criminal Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CRIM

[item.summary-proceedings]
code=CRIM-SUMM
slug=summary-proceedings
name=Summary Proceedings
description=Written-only proceedings for minor cases punishable by fines up to 1 million yen.
category=Types of Criminal Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CRIM

[item.simplified-trial-procedure]
code=CRIM-SIMPLE
slug=simplified-trial-procedure
name=Simplified Trial Procedure
description=Simplified evidence examination for cases where the defendant admits to the charged facts.
category=Types of Criminal Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=CRIM

[item.administrative-litigation]
code=ADMIN
slug=administrative-litigation
name=Administrative Litigation
description=Proceedings to review complaints against administrative actions by national or local governments.
category=Administrative Cases
governingLaw=Administrative Case Litigation Act
parentCode=

[item.objection-proceedings]
code=ADMIN-OBJ
slug=objection-proceedings
name=Objection Proceedings
description=Subjective proceedings to challenge the exercise of administrative authority.
category=Types of Administrative Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=ADMIN

[item.revocation-action]
code=ADMIN-REV
slug=revocation-action
name=Revocation Action
description=The most important objection proceeding seeking revocation of administrative dispositions or decisions.
category=Types of Objection Proceedings
governingLaw=
parentCode=ADMIN-OBJ

[item.party-proceedings]
code=ADMIN-PARTY
slug=party-proceedings
name=Party Proceedings
description=Proceedings between parties contesting legal relationships under public law.
category=Types of Administrative Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=ADMIN

[item.popular-action]
code=ADMIN-POP
slug=popular-action
name=Popular Action
description=Objective proceedings where voters contest the validity of elections.
category=Types of Administrative Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=ADMIN

[item.institutional-proceedings]
code=ADMIN-INST
slug=institutional-proceedings
name=Institutional Proceedings
description=Objective proceedings to resolve jurisdictional disputes between government organs.
category=Types of Administrative Litigation
governingLaw=
parentCode=ADMIN