F4300200 Legal System and Japanese Society

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School School of Law Law Day Course

Lecture Code F4300200 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name Legal System and Japanese Society

Subject Name
（Katakana）リーガルシステムアンドジャパニーズソサイエティ

Subject Name in
English Legal System and Japanese Society

Instructor MOUSOURAKIS GEORGE

Instructor
(Katakana) ムスラキス　ジョージ

Campus Higashi-Senda Semester/Term 2nd-Year, Second Semester, 4Term

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (4T) Thur5-8：Higashi-Senda Meeting Rm 3-1

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

The teaching of the course will take the form of formal lecturing and class discussions. Study guides will be provided for each lecture every week. These are designed to assist students to understand the material being lectured on. The instructor will also use video materials and power point slides to aid students in the learning process.

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 4 Language of Instruction E : English

Course Level 1 : Undergraduate Introductory

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 01 : Law

Eligible Students

Keywords Japan, Japanese History, Japanese Society & Culture, Japanese Law & Politics

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students) Business Law
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems.

Public Policy
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems.

Law and Politics Program
（Knowledge and Understanding）
・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems

Class Objectives
/Class Outline The course has two main aims: (1) to provide a basic introduction to the Japanese legal system within its historical, social, and political context; and (2) to familiarize students with key features of that system, including the principal sources and divisions of law, the organization of the judiciary, Japan’s constitutional structure and commitment to the rule of law, and the fundamental elements of civil and criminal law and procedure. By the end of the course, students should have developed an understanding of the relationship between law and society in Japan and the role of law in shaping social change.

Class Schedule lesson1: Introduction : The historical context of Japanese law.
lesson2:The socio-cultural and political context of Japanese law.
lesson3: The early history of Japanese law (the law of feudal Japan).
lesson4: The legal reforms of the Meiji era and the influence of European civil law.
lesson5: The development of Japanese law in the twentieth century and the influence of Anglo-American law.
lesson6: The sources of Japanese law
lesson7: Japan’s constitutional Law and its government structure.
lesson8: Constitutional protection of human rights in Japan.
lesson9: Court structure and the justice process.
lesson10: Legal education and the legal profession in Japan.
lesson11: Aspects of substantive criminal law.
lesson12: Structure and function of the criminal justice administration in Japan.
lesson13: Civil law, litigation and dispute resolution.
lesson14: Social Change and Legal Reform in Japan.
lesson15: Presentation of the research carried out by students and in-class test.

Text/Reference
Books,etc. There is no set textbook for this course. Reading materials will be provided. Reference books and other sources will be included in the handouts delivered to the students.

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams

(More Details)

Learning techniques to be incorporated Discussions, Project Learning, Post-class Report

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review The instructor will expect students to have covered the prescribed reading by the end of the course. Students are encouraged to read more widely if they get interested in a topic or if they find the material difficult and want to start with a more basic introduction.

Requirements

Grading Method Assessment for this course will be based on class participation, a written research report, presentation of research in class, and an in-class test.
Class participation: 20%
Written research report (1500 words max.): 30%
Presentation of research in class: 20%
In-class test: 30%

Practical Experience

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	School of Law Law Day Course
Lecture Code	F4300200	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	Legal System and Japanese Society
Subject Name （Katakana）	リーガルシステムアンドジャパニーズソサイエティ
Subject Name in English	Legal System and Japanese Society
Instructor	MOUSOURAKIS GEORGE
Instructor (Katakana)	ムスラキス　ジョージ
Campus	Higashi-Senda	Semester/Term	2nd-Year, Second Semester, 4Term
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(4T) Thur5-8：Higashi-Senda Meeting Rm 3-1
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
The teaching of the course will take the form of formal lecturing and class discussions. Study guides will be provided for each lecture every week. These are designed to assist students to understand the material being lectured on. The instructor will also use video materials and power point slides to aid students in the learning process.
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	4	Language of Instruction	E : English
Course Level	1 : Undergraduate Introductory
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	01 : Law
Eligible Students
Keywords	Japan, Japanese History, Japanese Society & Culture, Japanese Law & Politics
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)	Business Law （Knowledge and Understanding）・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems. Public Policy （Knowledge and Understanding）・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems. Law and Politics Program （Knowledge and Understanding）・Essential fundamental knowledge・understanding of systemic understanding of law systems
Class Objectives /Class Outline	The course has two main aims: (1) to provide a basic introduction to the Japanese legal system within its historical, social, and political context; and (2) to familiarize students with key features of that system, including the principal sources and divisions of law, the organization of the judiciary, Japan’s constitutional structure and commitment to the rule of law, and the fundamental elements of civil and criminal law and procedure. By the end of the course, students should have developed an understanding of the relationship between law and society in Japan and the role of law in shaping social change.
Class Schedule	lesson1: Introduction : The historical context of Japanese law. lesson2:The socio-cultural and political context of Japanese law. lesson3: The early history of Japanese law (the law of feudal Japan). lesson4: The legal reforms of the Meiji era and the influence of European civil law. lesson5: The development of Japanese law in the twentieth century and the influence of Anglo-American law. lesson6: The sources of Japanese law lesson7: Japan’s constitutional Law and its government structure. lesson8: Constitutional protection of human rights in Japan. lesson9: Court structure and the justice process. lesson10: Legal education and the legal profession in Japan. lesson11: Aspects of substantive criminal law. lesson12: Structure and function of the criminal justice administration in Japan. lesson13: Civil law, litigation and dispute resolution. lesson14: Social Change and Legal Reform in Japan. lesson15: Presentation of the research carried out by students and in-class test.
Text/Reference Books,etc.	There is no set textbook for this course. Reading materials will be provided. Reference books and other sources will be included in the handouts delivered to the students.
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts, Visual Materials, Microsoft Teams
(More Details)
Learning techniques to be incorporated	Discussions, Project Learning, Post-class Report
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	The instructor will expect students to have covered the prescribed reading by the end of the course. Students are encouraged to read more widely if they get interested in a topic or if they find the material difficult and want to start with a more basic introduction.
Requirements
Grading Method	Assessment for this course will be based on class participation, a written research report, presentation of research in class, and an in-class test. Class participation: 20% Written research report (1500 words max.): 30% Presentation of research in class: 20% In-class test: 30%
Practical Experience
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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