Basic Materials for Japanese Legal Research
(Updated May 09, 2008)

• Citation and Romanization
• Dictionaries
• Guides to Research

Citation and Romanization

• Legal Citation
  (See also Legal Citation under Web Resources)
  • Japanese
    • 法律文献等の出典の表示方法 [Hōritsu bunken no shutten no hyōji hōhō]. 2000年版
      IN 法律関係8学会共通会員名簿 / 日本学会事務ｾﾝﾀ―, 日本公法学会 ... [et al.]会員 名簿,  p. 1-16 (2nd group).  KNX33.N54 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
      (This very detailed annual publication lists proper citation forms as prescribed by a well know group of Japanese law academics. It includes (all in Japanese) examples of proper citation format for different types of publications, and an extensive list of legal publications, giving the prescribed abbreviated form for each title.)
      Also Available on the web
    • For a list in Japanese of Abbreviations of the names of Japanese legal publications, see volume one in each section of the set 判例体系 (Hanrei taikei) (see full record for this set on the Finding Cases page)
    •  
  • English
    • The Bluebook : a uniform system of citation. 17th ed. (2000). KF245 .U5 2000 Current ed. at Reference Area
      (See section on Japan (p. 272-276) in the Foreign Jurisdictions section. Lists proper citation forms for citing to Japanese legal publications in U.S. legal publications)
    • Form of citation of Japanese legal materials. Rev. version / prepared by Dan Fenno Henderson ... [et al.]. KNX48 .F67 1967at EALR (East Asian Law Reference), CLAS
• Romanization, etc.
  (see also Notes About Romanization)
  • Guide to processing Chinese, Japanese and Korean serials / by Scott Edward Harrison. Rev., enl. ed. Z692.S5 H37 1991 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
  • Japan style sheet : the SWET guide for writers, editors, and translators. Rev. ed., 1998.  PL635 .J36 1998 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
    (Discusses romanization and other issues relating to editing translations from Japanese into English. Includes table of Japanese era names.)
• Japanese Era Names

Dictionaries
(See also online Dictionaries and Glossaries under Web Resources)

• Legal Dictionaries
  • Hōrei yōgo Nichi-Ei hyōjun taiyaku jisho / [Hōrei Gaikokugo Yaku, Jisshi Suishin Kentō Kaigi]
    法令用語日英標準対訳辞書 / [法令外国語訳・実施推進検討会議] (Standard Bilingual Dictionary), 2006. K52.J3 .H678 2006 AT EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
    (This dictionary created by a committee of the Japanese government is the new official government standard for translation of Japanese laws into English.  Also available in PDF on the Internet)
  • Japanese-English legal glossary for Asian Law Program = 和英法律学辞典.  K52.J3H45 1995 AT CLAS (Classified Stacks), EALR (East Asian Law Reference) See also on-line version
  • 新法律学辞典 [Shin hōritsugaku jiten]  Dai 3-han.  KNX26 .S55 1989 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
  • 英和和英新ビジネス英語大辞典 [Ei-Wa, Wa-Ei shin bijinesu Eigo daijiten] = English-Japanese, Japanese-English advanced business English dictionary / Dan Foote ed. KNX917 .E39 1987 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
    (Although this dictionary focuses on business, it contains many law-related entries.)
• Other Dictionaries
  • Kenkyusha's new Japanese-English dictionary. 5th ed., 2003.  PL679.K4 2003 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
  • Kenkyusha's new Japanese-English dictionary. 4th ed.,1974. PL679 .K4 1974 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
    (Terms listed in romanization.  Standard for the Japanese romanization used in U.S. Library catalogs.)
  • Kenkyusha's new English-Japanese dictionary on bilingual principles. 6th ed., 2002.  PL679 .K39 2003 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference).
  • 日本生命読み不利辞典　名の部, 姓の部 [Nihon seimei yomifuri jiten. Sei no bu. Na no bu]. CS3000 .N53 1990 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
    (Very useful dictionary for finding pronunciations for Japanese personal names.)

Guides to Research
(see also Japanese Law Guides on the Web Resources page)

• In English
  • Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan. 1st ed. (9 volumes.) DS805 .K633 1983 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
    (Includes the text of many laws, and references to famous cases and other important topics concerning law in Japan. Has index for entire set, with laws listed by Japanese name. 
    Also available online (Click here).   Available without a password from University of Washington IP addresses only; Otherwise, a subscription is required for access.)
  • Foreign Law: Current sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World . (also known as "Reynolds and Flores). K38.R49 1989 at EALD, Reference Office
    (Asia volume [v.3A] includes section on Japan. Very useful for determining whether or not an English translation of a law is available, and if so in what source it can be found.)
  • Modern legal systems cyclopedia (Section on Japan). K530 .M63 1984 at Reference Area.
  • Martindale-Hubbell international law digest. KF190 .M35 Current ed. at Reference Area
    (Includes section on Japan.)
  • Finding the law in Japanese.  KNX47 .H37 1994 at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
  • A guide to the study of Japanese law.  KNX47 .B44 1975 at CLASSIFIED STACKS.
  • The Japanese legal system : introductory cases and materials.  KNX68 .J37 1984a at EALR (East Asian Law Reference)
  • Research and readings in Japanese law / Veronica L. Taylor (ed.) KNX47 .R47 1991 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
  • The what, where, why and how of Japanese cases : through the window of Japan's emerging law of sexual harassment 
    (Student papers. University of Washington School of Law).  KNX47 .W65 1996 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
• In Japanese
  • 法律情報検索教育と法科大学院. in 法律時報75巻3号(March 2003) [Hōritsu jōhō kensaku kyōiku to hōka daigakuin (tokushu)]. in Hōritsu jihō. vol. 75, no. 3 (March 2003) KNX6.H673, vol. 75 no.3.
    This issue of Hōritsu jihō includes several articles on legal research in Japan.
  • リーガル・リサーチ = Legal research [Rīgaru risāchi].  KNX47.I855 2003 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
  • 法律文献学入門：法令・判例・文献の調べ方 [Hōritsu bunkengaku nyūmon.] KNX47.N57 2002 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
    (Very useful current overview of Japanese legal bibliography and how to use it.)
  • 判例調査の方法. [Hanrei chōsa no hōhō].  In 判例タイムズ [Hanrei taimuzu] no. 745 (Mar. 1, 1991), p. 45-53.  KNX19.A35H36 no. 745-750 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
  • 法学文献の調べ方.      [Hōgaku bunken no shirabekata]. (Sections on Japanese Law) KNX47 .I73 1980 at CLASSIFIED STACKS
  • 実定法岳入門 [Jittei hōgaku nyūmon]. KNX68.T362 1965 at CLASSIFIED STACKS