Hiroshi Itoh and Lawrence W. Beer

Preface

Abbreviations and Legends

Introduction

Relationships between Forms, Levels, and Types of Law

The Diet, the Cabinet, and the Courts

Local Autonomy

Taxation under the Constitution

Equality of Rights under the Law

The Economic Freedoms of Citizens

Rights Related to the Quality of Socioeconomic Life

the Right to Participate in Election Politics

Procedural Questions

Intellectual Rights and Freedoms

Appendix 1. Supreme Court Justices of Japan, 1961-1970

Appendix 2. Organization Chart of Japan's Judicial System, and Map of Court Jurisdictions in Japan

Appendix 3. The Constitution of Japan

Selected Bibliography

Index

The Constitutional Case Law of Japan, 1970 through 1990, contains translations of 47 Japanese judicial decisions, selected after consultation with leading Japanese constitutional lawyers and judges. Landmark decisions, cases considered legally, socially, or politically importatn, and cases of special interest to the foreign scholar are included. Major areas covered are the renunciation of war, equality of rights, economic freedoms, rights related to the quality of life, rights of participation in election politics, procedural rights, and rights and freedoms of the spirit. A substantial introduction gives an overview of Japan's constutionalism since 1945, and concisely explains the constitutional system and the courts and their roles. Brief summaries of the cases translated and cases not translated are provided.