Japan Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records

Find the correct official record

Where Can You Search Japan Criminal Records?

Japan’s criminal justice records are maintained by different institutions. Police certificates, published judicial decisions, prosecutors’ case files and prison information are not combined into a public searchable criminal-history website.

Official nationwide police certificate

How to Get a Criminal Record Certificate in Japan

The official Japanese document is called a Certificate of Criminal Record, or 犯罪経歴証明書 (Hanzai Keireki Shōmeisho).

It may also be described as a police certificate, police clearance certificate, police certification or travel certificate.

The certificate is issued through Japan’s official police system and reflects a nationwide criminal-record check under the rules governing its issuance.

Who can apply?

Applicants generally must demonstrate that a foreign government or qualifying authority requires the certificate.

Examples can include:

• Immigration and permanent residence applications
• Specified long-term visa applications
• Work permit or residency procedures abroad
• Official licensing or qualification processes
• Other purposes recognized by the issuing police authority

Eligibility is not determined simply by wanting to see one’s record. The police may require evidence that the certificate is necessary for an authorized purpose.

Can you request a certificate just to check yourself?

Generally, the normal police certificate process is not designed for unrestricted personal background checking.

For example, the Osaka Prefectural Police explicitly states that it does not accept applications merely because a private company or individual wants a certificate, without an eligible official purpose.

However, particular consular procedures or recognized safeguarding requirements may qualify. Applicants should ask the responsible authority before assuming eligibility.

Is the certificate nationwide or prefecture-only?

The US Department of State’s official Japan document guidance identifies the certificate issued by metropolitan or prefectural police headquarters as including a nationwide criminal records check.

You apply through the appropriate prefecture, but the document is not simply a list of offenses committed in that prefecture.

Does the certificate list every old conviction?

Not necessarily. Official US immigration document guidance states that certain older convictions, completed probation situations, pardons, minor traffic offenses and other legally specified circumstances may no longer appear on Japanese police certificates.

That does not mean those historical events have been erased from every governmental system or become irrelevant under every foreign immigration law.

Official police clearance application process

Step-by-Step: Apply for a Japanese Police Clearance Certificate

1. Confirm that you need a Japanese police certificate

   Read the document checklist issued by the embassy, immigration agency or other official organization requesting it.

   Check whether it requires a certificate from Japan, your current home country, or both.

2. Identify the correct issuing office

   If you currently live in Japan, contact the police headquarters for your registered prefecture.

   If you previously lived in Japan and now reside abroad, contact the nearest Japanese embassy or consulate or the appropriate former prefectural headquarters, following the applicable rules.

3. Collect proof of the official requirement

   Depending on the destination and local police procedure, acceptable evidence may include an embassy letter, immigration application, permit application or written request from an official authority.

4. Prepare your valid passport

   Tokyo and Osaka require an original valid passport, not merely a photocopy.

   Because the certificate may include the passport number, renewing your passport after applying can create additional problems.

5. Prepare residence documentation

   Depending on your circumstances, this may include a residence record (Jūminhyō), residence card, address identification or evidence of previous residence in Japan.

6. Visit the correct authority in person

   The ordinary Japanese police certificate procedure requires fingerprint collection, so applicants cannot usually authorize another person to submit the original application on their behalf.

7. Complete the fingerprinting process

   The issuing authority collects or verifies the applicant’s fingerprints according to its procedure.

   Applicants overseas may need to obtain a specified fingerprint form from the Japanese embassy and have fingerprints taken at an approved local location.

8. Wait for issuance

   Tokyo and Osaka generally report approximately two weeks after a properly completed domestic application.

   Applications made overseas may require substantially longer.

9. Collect the certificate

   Follow the police headquarters or embassy’s collection procedure.

   Some authorities permit a properly authorized representative to collect a document even though the applicant must personally apply.

10. Keep the official envelope sealed

    Japanese police certificates are generally issued in sealed envelopes for submission to the receiving authority.

    Do not open the envelope unless the receiving authority specifically instructs you to do so.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

How to Get a Japan Criminal Record Certificate in Tokyo

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department issues qualifying police certificates to people registered as residents of Tokyo and to certain former Tokyo residents now living abroad.

What documents are required in Tokyo?

Requirements depend on nationality and residence status, but generally include:

• Valid original passport
• Current residence record or accepted evidence of residence
• Evidence of the official requirement for the certificate when applicable
• For former residents abroad, documents proving previous Tokyo residence and current overseas address

The police advises applicants to call in advance when the requesting authority or application purpose is unusual.

How long does it take?

Tokyo reports that the in-person application procedure normally takes approximately 20 minutes, and the certificate is usually available in about two weeks.

Applications close to Golden Week or the year-end holiday period may take around three weeks.

How much does Tokyo charge?

Tokyo police certificate fee: Free.

Costs associated with travel, replacement identification or other third-party services are separate.

Can Tokyo mail the certificate to your address?

Tokyo’s published procedure states that it does not mail the certificate.

Applicants normally collect it in person or arrange an eligible representative for collection through the office’s authorization procedure.

Osaka Prefectural Police Headquarters

How to Request a Japan Police Certificate in Osaka

Osaka Prefectural Police provides an English-language application guide for qualifying Japanese and foreign applicants.

Applicants ordinarily need current Osaka resident registration or qualifying previous Osaka registration if they now live overseas.

Is an appointment required in Osaka?

Osaka’s published guidance says police certificate applications are normally accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, without appointments.

Applicants must appear in person for fingerprinting.

Can you apply at a nearby Osaka police station?

No. Osaka Prefectural Police states that applications are handled at its prefectural headquarters, not ordinary police stations or police boxes (kōban).

What is the cost and processing time?

The published fee is free, and issuance normally takes approximately two weeks after acceptance of the completed application.

Incomplete documentation or unusual eligibility questions may delay acceptance.

What languages are on the certificate?

Osaka states that the Japanese certificate is issued in five languages:

• Japanese
• English
• French
• German
• Spanish

Applicants should still check whether the receiving organization requires separate translation or authentication of other accompanying documents.

Former Japan residents and overseas applicants

How to Get Japan Criminal Records After Leaving the Country

Foreign nationals who previously lived in Japan may still need a Japanese criminal record certificate for immigration, permanent residence, citizenship or other official processes in their new country.

Japanese embassies and consulates can generally assist with qualifying overseas police certificate requests.

Step-by-step application from another country

1. Contact the Japanese embassy or consulate

   Confirm whether it handles police certificates for your current country of residence and whether an appointment is required.

2. Explain the purpose of the request

   Provide the visa, residency, licensing or other official requirement and ask which supporting documents are acceptable.

3. Obtain the required Japanese fingerprint form

   Some consulates issue a particular fingerprint form that must be used.

4. Arrange fingerprint collection

   Follow the consulate’s instructions for fingerprinting through local police or another acceptable authority.

5. Submit the original required documents

   Bring the passport, fingerprints and supporting materials to your consular appointment.

6. Allow time for processing in Japan

   The diplomatic mission forwards the request under the applicable Japanese procedure.

7. Collect the sealed certificate

   Follow the consulate’s instructions and preserve the envelope seal.

How long do overseas applications take?

Processing times vary substantially by diplomatic mission.

For example, the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom stated in its October 8, 2026 update that its police certificate process generally takes two to three months.

This is longer than the approximately two-week processing reported for some applications submitted directly inside Japan.

Can you apply through an embassy and a Japanese police office at the same time?

Generally, no. Tokyo and Osaka instruct applicants that after applying through a Japanese embassy or consulate abroad, they cannot submit another concurrent application through a police headquarters in Japan.

Choose the appropriate route before beginning the process.

What if you were a foreign student or worker in Japan?

If you were legally registered as a resident, your previous residence documents can be important when establishing which prefecture is responsible.

Possible evidence includes an old residence record, evidence of former foreign resident registration, or other acceptable documents confirming your last Japanese address.

If you no longer possess those records, contact the relevant Japanese consulate to identify the accepted alternatives.

Official judicial decisions and legal research

How to Search Japanese Criminal Court Judgments Online

The Supreme Court of Japan provides the official Judgments Search system, called 裁判例検索 (Saibanrei Kensaku).

This service publishes selected decisions from Japan’s courts.

It is useful for researching a particular legal issue, a known judgment date, a case number or a published criminal appeal.

How to search the Japanese judgment database

1. Open the official Courts website

   Visit courts.go.jp and navigate to the judgments search feature.

2. Choose the relevant judgment category

   The Japanese system includes Supreme Court cases, High Court decisions, selected lower-court judgments and other categories.

3. Enter a case number if you know it

   A known case identifier is generally more precise than broad subject keywords.

4. Search by legal term or case topic

   For criminal law research, relevant Japanese terms might include 刑事 (criminal), 窃盗 (theft), or 詐欺 (fraud).

5. Apply date and court filters

   Where available, narrow the results by judgment date, court category or other supported criteria.

6. Open the published judgment

   Review the available case number, decision date, court, result and published reasons.

7. Verify the relevant original text

   If an English translation is available, remember that the Supreme Court describes those translations as unofficial.

Can you search Japanese judgments by defendant name?

Not reliably.

The published judgment system is not designed as a nationwide criminal background database.

The courts warn that they do not publish every judgment, and identifying information may be omitted or replaced with letters such as A, B and C to protect privacy.

A person’s name not appearing in the published database does not prove that the person was never prosecuted or convicted.

Are all Japanese criminal court decisions published?

No. The Supreme Court’s Japanese search instructions explicitly say that not every judgment or decision appears in the system.

Some cases have no published full-text decision, while others appear only in limited summaries or selected court publications.

Understand Japan’s criminal court structure

Which Courts Handle Criminal Cases in Japan?

Japan has several levels of courts that handle criminal proceedings, appeals and selected judicial matters.

Tokyo District Court

Osaka District Court

For proceedings in Kyoto, Nagoya, Yokohama, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Kobe or other cities, use the relevant local court’s official website.

Finalized criminal case records

How to Obtain Criminal Case Records or a Certified Judgment in Japan

When a particular criminal case has been finalized, the associated litigation records are generally retained under the applicable criminal record retention system.

In Japan, the responsible public prosecutor’s office is often the appropriate custodian of finalized criminal trial records.

The US Department of State identifies the relevant District Public Prosecutor’s Office records section as the source for certain certified criminal judgments.

What does Japanese criminal procedure law allow?

Article 53 of Japan’s Code of Criminal Procedure provides a basis for inspection of case records following conclusion of the case.

However, the provision is subject to legal restrictions, including preservation concerns, interference with court or prosecutor operations, confidentiality and special conditions for restricted cases.

Separate legislation governs retention of finalized criminal case records and access to those records.

How to request a specific criminal judgment

1. Identify the original criminal proceeding

   Gather the court name, case number, defendant details and approximate judgment date.

2. Find the records custodian

   For a finalized prosecution, contact the public prosecutor’s office corresponding to the court that decided the case.

3. Explain which document you need

   Examples include a certified copy of the judgment, a specific ruling or inspection of an eligible case file.

4. Establish your legal basis for access

   Identify whether you are the defendant, an authorized representative, a victim or another requester with a recognized reason.

5. Provide required identification

   The responsible office may require personal identification, details identifying the case and evidence of authorization.

6. Ask about inspection and copying charges

   Fees and access procedures depend on the record type and responsible office.

7. Follow the office’s procedure

   Some requests require personal attendance. Overseas applicants may need an authorized local representative in accordance with the relevant procedures.

What is a certified Japanese judgment called?

A certified copy of a judgment may be described as 判決謄本 (Hanketsu Tōhon).

The US Department of State’s Japan document guidance confirms that qualifying certified judgments can be obtained through the relevant official custodians, subject to case-specific requirements.

Can someone outside Japan obtain a court judgment?

Possibly. According to the US Department of State’s Japan guidance, applicants living abroad may use the lawyer who previously represented them or an eligible relative in Japan acting under power of attorney for certain judgment-document requests.

Ask the Japanese record custodian whether this procedure applies to your specific case before sending personal records or authorizations.

Pending cases and public hearings

How to Find Japanese Criminal Court Hearings and Trial Dates

Japan’s publicly accessible criminal court hearings are different from published judgments and official police criminal-history records.

The Supreme Court explains that trials conducted in open court may generally be observed by members of the public.

However, this does not mean Japan maintains a single searchable nationwide online docket containing every upcoming criminal hearing.

How to find a scheduled criminal hearing

1. Identify the court

   Determine which district, summary or appellate court is handling the proceeding.

2. Open the court’s official website

   Check whether the local court publishes hearing or observation information.

3. Contact the courthouse if necessary

   Ask about the scheduled courtroom, date and applicable public attendance procedure.

4. Check observation-ticket rules

   Cases expected to attract large crowds may require attendance tickets or another allocation procedure.

5. Follow courtroom security rules

   Recording, photography and device use are governed by courthouse rules and judicial directions.

Can victims inspect pending criminal case records?

Japan’s Supreme Court describes legal procedures that permit victims of certain criminal cases to inspect or copy eligible records while proceedings are pending.

Such requests are subject to statutory requirements and privacy protections. They should be made through the responsible court or prosecutor rather than an unofficial online search provider.

Non-Japanese citizens and former residents

Can Foreigners Look Up Their Criminal Records in Japan?

Foreign nationals who currently or previously lived in Japan can qualify for official Japanese police certificates when the necessary conditions are met.

Nationality alone does not prevent an otherwise eligible applicant from using the certificate procedure.

Foreign resident currently in Japan

Contact the police headquarters of your current registered prefecture.

Be prepared to provide:

• Valid passport
• Residence card or accepted residence documentation
• Current Japanese address
• Evidence of the eligible official reason
• Fingerprints taken through the approved procedure

Foreign national who left Japan

Contact the Japanese embassy or consulate serving your present country, especially if you no longer have active Japanese residence registration.

Former residence records can help confirm the prefecture associated with the applicant’s history.

Foreign tourist who never lived in Japan

An ordinary tourist should not assume they qualify for a Japanese criminal-history certificate merely because they visited Japan.

The Tokyo and Osaka police eligibility rules focus on current or former registered residents and a qualifying official requirement.

If a foreign authority specifically requires records related to a temporary stay, seek instructions from the Japanese diplomatic mission or relevant Japanese authority.

Does a Japanese police certificate replace a home-country police certificate?

No. If an immigration application requires criminal records from multiple countries where you lived, you may need separate certificates.

For example, someone who lived in India and Japan may need police documentation from both countries, according to the receiving immigration authority’s requirements.

Costs, processing times and document formats

Japan Criminal Records Search Fees and Processing Times

Japan’s public legal judgments database and police certificate procedures have different access conditions.

Is the Japan police certificate available as a PDF download?

Generally, no. The normal police certificate is an official document delivered according to the police headquarters or consulate’s procedure, frequently in a sealed envelope.

A commercial website offering instant downloadable Japanese police clearance certificates should not be treated as an authorized issuing authority without independent verification.

How long is a Japanese police certificate valid?

There is no single universal acceptance period for every foreign immigration, licensing or residency application.

The receiving authority determines how recent the certificate must be and whether an older certificate will be accepted.

Some procedures also require an apostille or another form of authentication. Confirm the requirement before applying.

Public information versus protected records

Are Criminal Records Public in Japan?

Japan recognizes public criminal trials and provides legal mechanisms to inspect certain completed case records.

However, this is not equivalent to providing unrestricted public access to every person’s criminal history.

Can you look up another person’s criminal record in Japan?

Not through a general official nationwide police-record name search.

You may find a relevant published judicial decision, or you may qualify to inspect certain case records under specific provisions of law.

However, there is no general entitlement to another person’s entire criminal-history certificate simply because you know their name.

Can Japanese employers request criminal records?

Japan’s ordinary police certificate procedure is not a general private-sector employee background-check service.

Osaka Prefectural Police explicitly states that a private company or individual’s request alone is not an accepted basis for issuing its certificate.

Specialized overseas regulatory or safeguarding requirements may follow different recognized official procedures.

Are arrest records public?

News coverage of an arrest, a public hearing and an official criminal-history report are different sources of information.

An arrest should not be treated as proof of conviction. A prosecution may result in dismissal, acquittal or another disposition.

Find the reason for an unsuccessful search

Why Can’t I Find Japanese Criminal Records Online?

Japanese terminology for records requests

Useful Japanese Terms for Criminal Record Searches

Knowing the correct Japanese term can make it easier to locate official government information or explain a request to a court or police authority.

Example of a Japanese inquiry

When making an actual application, follow the issuing authority’s official language, form and identification requirements rather than relying on a translation alone.

Official Japanese and government resources

Japan Criminal Records: Official Police and Court Search Links

Use these sources for actual government application procedures, published judgments, case access rules and official criminal record documentation.