Constitution of Japan

Shigenori Matsui is Director of Japanese Legal Studies at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

• 1 The Constitution: Context And History Introduction Part I: Constitutional Context Part II: History Part III: Sources Of Constitutional Law Part IV: Supremacy of the Constitution Part V: Fundamental Principles of the Japanese Constitution Conclusion Further Reading 2 The Constitution, the People and the Emperor Introduction Part I: The Popular Sovereignty Principle Part II: The People Part II: Election and Political Party Part IV: The Emperor Conclusion Further Reading 3 The Diet and the Legislative Power Introduction Part I: The Diet Part II: Powers of the Diet Part III: Legislative Process 78 Part IV: Legislators and Bureaucrats: Reality of the Legislative Process Conclusion Further Reading 4 The Cabinet and the Executive Power Introduction Part I: The Status of the Cabinet and the Prime Minister Part II: The Powers of the Cabinet P art III: The Relationship Between the Cabinet and the Diet Part IV: The Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Bureaucrats Part V: Legal Control of the Executive Conclusion Further Reading 5 The Courts and the Judicial Power Introduction Part I: The Courts Part II: Justiciability Part III: The Power of Judicial Review Conclusion Further Reading 6 The Protection of Fundamental Human Rights: Structural Issues Introduction Part I: Fundamental Human Rights Part II: Applicability of Constitutional Rights Part III: Restrictions on Fundamental Human Rights Conclusion Further Reading 7 The Protection of Fundamental Human Rights: Specific Rights Introduction Part I: Equality Part II: Personal Freedoms Part III: Economic Freedoms Part IV: Social Rights Conclusion Further Reading 8 Pacifism And National Defence Introduction Part I: Pacifism Part II: The Self-Defence Force Part III: The Japan-United States Mutual Security Treaty Part IV: The Constitution and International Peace Cooperation Conclusion Further Reading 9 Constitutional Amendment and Reforms Introduction Part I: Constitutional Amendment Part II: Amending the Japanese Constitution or Enacting a New Constitution Conclusion Further Reading

...a concise and balanced description of the legal structure of the Japanese constitution. Kazuhiro Takii Journal of Japanese Studies, Volume 40. Number 1. 2014 Professor Matsui's volume is the first major treatment of Japanese constitutional law to appear in English in several years, and will be accessible to students and scholars alike as an excellent introduction to the field. The volume is easy to use, with a handy table of constitutional articles and legislation, as well as suggestions for further reading for those so inclined. Tom Ginsburg Japan Review, Volume 25, 2013