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International Law

Japan has been making significant and constructive contributions towards the establishment of the rule of law in the international community.

First, Japan has been placing importance on peaceful settlement of international disputes. For example, it has accepted the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), utilized the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in the Hoshinmaru and Tomimaru Cases and has been a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Furthermore, Japan has sent Japanese judges to these distinguished judicial organs: President Hisashi Owada (ICJ), Judge Shunji Yanai (ITLOS) and Judge Kuniko Ozaki (ICC). Japan has also been one of the largest contributors to the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).

Secondly, Japan has advocated the work relating to the progressive development and codification of international law, for example, by making constructive contributions to the discussion at diplomatic conferences on various international treaties, such as the Rome Conference on the ICC in 1998, or by submitting its views on the work of the International Law Commission (ILC) at the Sixth Committee of the United Nations. Professor Shinya Murase, Japanese member of the ILC, has been actively involved with the work of the ILC.

Thirdly, Japan has actively participated in the legal discourse at regional legal consultative organizations, such as the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) (as a member) and the Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law of the Council of Europe (CAHDI) (as an observer).

Fourthly, Japan has made contributions to the establishment of the UN Audiovisual Library of International Law which was launched in October 2008.

The following is recent events or contributions to the above international courts and organizations.

• International Court of Justice (ICJ)
  • Written Statement of the Japanese Government on "Accordance with International Law of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government of Kosovo", 17 April 2009. [PDF]
• International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)
• International Criminal Court (ICC)
• International Criminal Court Trust Fund for Victims
  • See Transnational Organized Crime.
• Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
• International Law Commission (ILC)
• Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO)
  • Round-Table Meeting of Legal Experts on the Forthcoming Review Conference of the International Criminal Court (Summary) (April, 2010)
  • One-Day Seminar on International Criminal Court: Emerging Issues and Future Challenges (Summary of Results) (March, 2009)
• Committee of Legal Advisors on Public International Law (CAHDI)
• UN Audiovisual Library of International Law

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