Tag - courts​

 
 

COURTS​

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 12, 2023
Okinawa governor refuses to approve design change for Henoko base
The central government has claimed that the governor's disapproval "seriously harms the public interest."
Environment Minister Shintaro Ito speaks to reporters at the ministry on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 11, 2023
Tokyo and Kumamoto appeal ruling in favor of Minamata victims
The ruling found that plaintiffs not eligible for relief payments under a 2009 special law were affected by the mercury poisoning disease.
A building in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward housing the Unification Church
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 6, 2023
Unification Church objects to fine for refusing government questions
The religious organization argued that the agency's exercise of the right to question and seek answers from it was illegal.
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki speaks to reporters in Naha on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 6, 2023
Land minister sues Okinawa governor over U.S. base landfill plan
The central government and Okinawa Prefecture have long been at odds over relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
Okinawa rejects central government order on U.S. base work
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 4, 2023
Okinawa rejects central government order on U.S. base work
The central government and Okinawa Prefecture have long been at odds over relocating U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.
The decision by the Supreme Court's First Petty Bench will let stand lower court rulings that acknowledged the constitutionality of a legal requirement that Japanese who gain foreign nationality must give up their original citizenship.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 2, 2023
Supreme Court upholds Japan's ban on dual nationality
The eight plaintiffs, who live overseas, had argued that foreign nationality was necessary to facilitate their work and lives abroad.
A no trespassing sign outside the entrance of the Unification Church's Tokyo headquarters in 2022
JAPAN
Oct 1, 2023
Government to seek court order to revoke Unification Church's status
The move follows a monthslong probe by the Cultural Affairs Agency into the group over allegations of soliciting financially ruinous donations.
The office building that houses the Nagoya District Prosecutor's Office
JAPAN
Sep 29, 2023
Charges dropped again over death of detained Sri Lankan woman
The decision by the Nagoya District Prosecutor's Office effectively ends its probe into the case of Ratnayake Liyanage Wishma Sandamali.
Iwao Hakamata and his elder sister Hideko are pictured at his home in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 28, 2023
First hearing for 1966 murder retrial in Japan set for Oct. 27
Iwao Hakamata spent nearly half a century behind bars before new evidence led to his release in 2014.
Lawyers representing plaintiffs of a lawsuit demanding damages after being rejected from a special Minamata disease relief program as sufferers of the disease hold up signs in front of the Osaka District Court on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 27, 2023
Court recognizes 128 plaintiffs as Minamata disease sufferers
Presiding Judge Yuki Tatsuno ordered that ¥2.75 million in damages be paid to each of the 128 people who sued the central government.
Members of sexual minority groups and experts at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 27, 2023
Supreme Court may adjust requirements for gender status change
If the court deems the surgery requirement for a gender change to be unconstitutional, it is expected to pave the way for an amendment of the law.
A screen grab from video footage taken by an eyewitness shows three masked suspects fleeing a Rolex specialty store in Tokyo's Ginza district in May.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 25, 2023
18-year-old Ginza robbery suspect gets 4½ years in prison
It was ruled that Shoma Torii bears serious criminal responsibility, since he went ahead with the heist even after he was informed it was a robbery.
GaaSyy bows after being released on bail from the Tokyo Detention House in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 22, 2023
Ex-lawmaker and YouTuber GaaSyy released on ¥30 million bail
The expelled lawmaker has been indicted on five charges including habitual online intimidation of celebrities.
Yoshikazu Higashitani, known as GaaSyy, at Narita Airport in June
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 19, 2023
In first court hearing, ex-lawmaker GaaSyy apologizes for defamation
Yoshikazu Higashitani admitted in court Tuesday to making defamatory remarks toward celebrities in videos he posted on social media.
Plaintiffs and supporters opposed to the expansion of a coal-fired power plant in Kobe protest after the Kobe District Court dismissed their civil case in March.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
Sep 17, 2023
Climate litigation remains a tough sell in Japan despite wins overseas
So far, Japan has seen just four climate lawsuits, all concerning the construction and operation of coal-fired power plants.
According to Justice Ministry statistics, about 20% of the inmates who ended up in prisons and other correctional facilities nationwide in 2021 were suspected of having intellectual disabilities.
JAPAN
Sep 17, 2023
'Osaka Model' for aiding disabled lawbreakers reaches crossroads
The "Osaka Model" for aiding lawbreakers with disabilities has reached a crossroads due to challenges with securing welfare and personnel.
Shinji Aoba speaking during a trial at the Kyoto District Court, in a court illustration
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 15, 2023
Kyoto Animation arson suspect inspired by 2001 attack
The suspect in a 2019 arson attack on a Kyoto Animation studio used gasoline after using a similar incident as reference, a court has heard.
Lawyers for the plaintiff in a lawsuit demanding that the Finance Ministry disclose documents related to a document-tampering scandal walk to the Osaka District Court on Thursday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 15, 2023
Osaka court rules against disclosure of Moritomo Gakuen papers
Accepting the plaintiff's petition "could cause problems such as the destruction of criminal evidence in future investigations," the judge concluded.
A team of lawyers — which represent the plaintiffs of a lawsuit claiming that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet neglected their constitutional obligation to call a parliamentary session — walk to the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Sep 13, 2023
Top court rejects claims over Abe's failure to call Diet session
Presiding Justice Yasumasa Nagamine at the top court's Third Petty Bench made the decision to dismiss the three appeals.
Kaoru Sasaki (center) and her lawyers head to the Sapporo District Court on Monday for a damages suit seeking spousal benefits relating to her same-sex relationship.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 11, 2023
Sapporo court denies spousal benefits to same-sex couple
According to lawyers, the lawsuit is Japan's first centered on the family relationship of same-sex partners.

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