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Ministry of Justice (Japan)

Coordinates: 35°40′35″N 139°45′12″E / 35.67635°N 139.753304°E / 35.67635; 139.753304
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Ministry of Justice
法務省
Hōmu-shō

The Ministry of Justice building in Kasumigaseki
Agency overview
FormedFebruary 15, 1948 (1948-02-15)
Preceding agency
  • Ministry of Justice (司法省, Shihōshō) (July 9, 1871 (1871-07-09) – February 15, 1948 (1948-02-15))
JurisdictionGovernment of Japan
Headquarters1-1-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
Agency executives
Websitehttps://www.moj.go.jp/EN/index.html

The Ministry of Justice (法務省, Hōmu-shō)[1] is one of the cabinet level ministries of the Japanese government. It is responsible for the judicial system, correctional services, and household, property and corporate registrations, and immigration control. It also serves as the government's legal representatives. The MOJ represents the Japanese government in litigation, and is also responsible for maintaining the official registers of households, resident aliens, real estate and corporations.

At the top of the ministry is the Minister of Justice, a member of the Cabinet, who is chosen by the Prime Minister from among members of the National Diet.

History

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Tokyo Detention House

The Ministry of Justice was established in 1871 as the Ministry of Justice (司法省, Shihōshō).[2] On February 15, 1948, the Attorney General's Office Establishment Law led to the creation of the Attorney General's Office.[2] It acquired its present name under the post-war Constitution of Japan in 1952.[2]

Under the Central Government Reorganization Plan, the Litigation Bureau was disbanded on January 6, 2001.[2] The LB was reestablished on April 10, 2015 from the Litigation Department.[3]

Structure

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The Ministry of Justice is organized in seven bureaus:[4]

  • Minister's Secretariat
  • The Civil Affairs Bureau
  • Criminal Affairs Bureau
  • Correction Bureau
  • Rehabilitation Bureau
  • Human Rights Bureau
  • Litigation Bureau

The MOJ has jurisdiction over the National Bar Examination Commission, the Public Security Examination Commission, and the Public Security Intelligence Agency. Although the Public Prosecutors Office are administratively part of the Ministry of Justice, they are independent of the authority of the Minister of Justice.[5]

The MOJ also oversees the Immigration Services Agency.[6]

See also

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References

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  • Kenkyusha's New Japanese–English Dictionary, Kenkyusha Limited, Tokyo 1991, ISBN 4-7674-2015-6

Footnotes

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35°40′35″N 139°45′12″E / 35.67635°N 139.753304°E / 35.67635; 139.753304