From the innovative technology it provides to its rich culture and wonderful landscape, Japan may be the best option for someone who wants to pursue law as it has some of the top law schools.
Japan has once struggled with the lack of lawyers to solve different kinds of disputes. In addition, the Japanese bar exam before was very tough, resulting in most students failing. That is why its government has made efforts to revise the exams and implement a new system for law studies. Now, Japanese universities offer various law-related programs with scholarships and more opportunities for their students.
Read further to know more about the top law universities in Japan.
Top Law Schools in Japan
1. University of Tokyo – Faculty of Law
The University of Tokyo was established in 1877 as a result of the integration of Tokyo Kaisei School and Tokyo Medical School. The University of Tokyo is regarded as one of the top universities that offer law courses in Japan because of its excellent law program and the success of its graduates. It has three main campuses located in Hongo, Komaba, and Kashiwa and other facilities that can be found all over the country. The University of Tokyo is a research-intensive institution that has partnered with many other global institutions throughout the years. With the type of knowledge and education it aims to provide, its graduates are expected to contribute to the advancement of society with a sense of public responsibility and pioneering spirit.
The University of Tokyo currently has ten faculties including the Faculty of Agriculture, Economics, and Law, and 15 graduate schools offering various programs in the fields of Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Law, and Politics. It has over 28,000 students and more than 11,000 academic and administrative staff.
The university’s Faculty of Law consists of three programs: The undergraduate program, the School of Legal and Political Studies, and the School of Law. Both the study of Law and Political Science are prioritized in the students’ learning to prepare them for the challenges in the country’s modern society.
2. Nagoya University – Faculty of Law
Officially founded in 1939, Nagoya University roots back from the establishment of the Temporary Medical School and Public Hospital in 1871. The school was originally intended for the spread of Western medicine and the production of doctors in the country. To support the public’s plea for a “comprehensive” university in the city of Nagoya, the Nagoya Imperial University was established.
The university has nine undergraduate schools, 13 graduate schools, three research institutes, and three inter-university service facilities. It is home to almost 10,000 undergraduate students, 6000 graduate students, and 4000 staff members. Nagoya University is primarily built to contribute to the well-being and happiness of society through research and education while maintaining an independent and healthy academic environment for its students and constituents. It also offers educational support programs, scholarships, and fee exemptions.
Nagoya University’s School of Law is a reputable-excellent institution that offers degrees in Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate. The degree programs under the School of Law include Political Science and Comparative Law. Some of its courses are taught in English and specially designed for international students.
3. Kyushu University – Faculty of Law
Kyushu University is a national university in Fukuoka and was established long before 1879 as Fukuoka Medical School. It is the largest research university in the region of Kyushu. It collaborates with the industry and government to strengthen its research competencies and produce technologies that can stand out internationally.
Kyushu University caters to more than 18,000 students and 2000 faculty members. It boasts of providing quality education and research to each of its students as the student-to-faculty ratio is 9:1. It has more than 2,000 international students every year, almost 12% of the total student population. The university has a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs and offers a lot of career opportunities for its students, some of which are further schooling, medical residency, and employment in various sectors.
The university’s Faculty of Law and Letters opened in 1924. Kyushu University is known for offering the best law programs in Japan primarily focusing not on legal practice but educating public servants. This education allows them to contribute to the socioeconomic development of the country and serve in the different sectors of society. Some programs of the School of Law are International Economic and Business Law, a Bilingual Program in Law, and a Lifelong Learning Program.
4. Keio University – Faculty of Law
Keio University was established in 1858 by Yukichi Fukuzawa, which was then a small school of Western studies. It is a private research university in Japan and has eleven campuses in Tokyo and Kanagawa. The university’s objective lies in its motto, “jitsugaku” which means empirical science. It has been contributing to the advancement and modernization of the country by providing higher learning to its graduates in the fields of education, research, and medicine. Keio University has ten undergraduate facilities and 14 graduate schools. It has more than 30,000 students and 2,300 full-time faculty, and the student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1.
Keio University’s Law School was established in 2004 and is considered one of Japan’s best law schools. It stands by its principles of “internationalism, multidisciplinary, and pioneer”. There are a lot of courses under the program that are taught in English. It also accepts 20 exchange students every year.
5. Waseda University – Faculty of Law
Originally called Tokyo Senmo Gakko in 1882, Waseda University is a private research university established by Shigenobu Okuma with the mission to nurture students and encourage them to “Be ambitious to contribute to the world without regard to the benefits of yourself, family, or your country.” It has 13 undergraduate schools including Law, Social Sciences, and Commerce, and 23 graduate schools including Political Science, Advanced Science and Engineering, and Sport Sciences.
Waseda Law School opened in 2004, but despite its recent establishment, it has already trained several legal professionals. It aims to produce lawyers who can serve the people, society, and the world regardless of social status. One of the programs under the university’s School of Law is Asian Economic Integration and Law. The university has been a promising school for international students as all LL.M. courses are taught in English.
We hope that this article in Best Law Universities in Japan was helpful. Make sure to also check out these open courses to discover the countless program possibilities available for you. For more practical tips on planning effectively for your overseas studies, visit our Study in Japan page!
