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July 04, 2025
 

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SUPREME COURT

Lawyers Kazuyuki Minami (left) and Masafumi Yoshida (right) representing a transgender woman show off signs that say "unconstitutional" and "sent back" to a lower court, during a news conference Wednesday in Tokyo after a Supreme Court decision.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 25, 2023
Supreme Court hands down landmark decision on transgender rights
A law requiring sterilization surgery to change a person's legal gender has been declared “unconstitutional."
Kanata Kimoto had his womb and ovaries removed in Thailand when he was 24, so he could have his legal gender status changed. Now he questions whether such an invasive and costly procedure was necessary.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 22, 2023
Calls grow to abolish Japan's surgery requirement for gender change
Between 2004 and 2022, a total of 11,919 people had their gender changed through the law in Japan.
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.
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.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 4, 2023
Japan top court upholds ruling against Okinawa over Futenma move
The decision may accelerate the relocation effort, as it requires the prefectural government to approve design changes.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 25, 2023
Japan's top court takes steps to ensure preservation of case records
The Supreme Court plans to work hard to change the mentality of court officials and prevent any recurrence of document destruction.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 11, 2023
Japan's supreme court makes landmark decision on transgender rights
In the first Supreme Court decision over bathroom usage by sexual minorities, the body ruled it was unlawful to restrict the use of bathrooms by a transgender woman at the economy ministry.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 16, 2023
Japan's top court holds hearing on transgender woman’s bathroom restrictions
The resulting ruling on the case, which will mark the first time the Supreme Court has weighed in on the working environment for sexual minorities, is expected on July 11.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 26, 2023
Japan's top court admits role in loss of important trial records
In a report over the discarding of the records, the Supreme Court admitted its failure to give sufficient instructions to courts across the country on record preservation.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 25, 2022
Top court rules music students not subject to copyright fees
The copyright law protects the right to perform music to be heard by the public. The focus of the lawsuit was whether preforming music during a lesson falls under that protection.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2022
Abortion and democracy in America
After the Roe v. Wade decision, many are speculating about which rights the Supreme Court will take away next.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 5, 2022
One voting group holds key to U.S. midterms after abortion leak: suburban women
A large majority of key U.S. voting blocs support abortion rights, but the matter has not been a top issue for voters in the past.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2022
Don’t jump to conclusions on politics of ending Roe v. Wade
Americans favor abortion rights, but most aren't intense pro-life or pro-choice partisans. A definitive Supreme Court ruling might alter the current landscape.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 2, 2021
Roe v. Wade in jeopardy if current arguments before top court are anything to go by
The court could hold that, properly interpreted, Roe allows states to restrict abortion at some point — so long as they allow women 'enough time” to end their pregnancies.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Aug 21, 2021
Supreme Court rebuffs move to aid Korean schools
The education ministry's definition of 'proper operations' has prevented Korean schools from qualifying for the same kinds of subsidies that other schools have access to.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 5, 2021
The damage done by a lengthy appeals process
The media has no problem reprimanding the government when it loses a court case, but news outlets seldom talk about how the judicial system can drag things on.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 28, 2020
A job for life, or not? A class divide deepens in Japan.
Recent court rulings threaten to further entrench the long-standing divide between so-called regular workers and the growing ranks of nonregular workers, many of whom are women.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 2, 2020
Tats not all, folks: Behind the Supreme Court's tattoo ruling
Supreme Court ruling in tattoo case can be seen as a rare example of Japan's courts second-guessing a regulator as to the interpretation of regulations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 23, 2019
Japan revises guidelines for child support payments
Under the new standards, the value of monthly child support may increase by some u00a510,000 to u00a520,000 depending on the parents' income levels.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Dec 23, 2019
The Reiwa Daijosai: Pomp, circumstance and litigation
The separation of church and state in Japan comes under scrutiny in the new era. However, we've been down this road before.
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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