Justices of the Supreme Court

Supreme Court of Japan > About the Supreme Court > Justices of the supreme court > OTANI Naoto

Chief Justice
OTANI, Naoto
Date of Birth: June 23, 1952

image:OTANI Naoto

Career

Education:

Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law in 1975

Qualification:

Appointed as a legal apprentice in 1975

Professional Career:

1977
Assistant Judge, Tokyo District Court
1980
Staff Attorney, Criminal Affairs Bureau, General Secretariat, Supreme Court
1983
Professor, Research and Training Institute for Court Clerks
1986
Assistant Judge, Toyama District/Family Court
1989
Judicial Research Official, Supreme Court
1994
Judge, Tokyo District Court
1995
Professor, Legal Training and Research Institute
1998
Director, First and Third Divisions, Criminal Affairs Bureau, General Secretariat, Supreme Court
2000
Judge, Tokyo High Court
2001
Presiding Judge, Tokyo District Court
2002
Director, Secretary Division and Public Information Division, General Secretariat, Supreme Court
2005
Director-General, Criminal Affairs Bureau, General Secretariat and Director of the Supreme Court Library, Supreme Court
2007
Director-General, Personnel Affairs Bureau, General Secretariat, Supreme Court
2011
Chief Judge, Shizuoka District Court
2012
Secretary-General of Supreme Court
2014
President, Osaka High Court
2015
February 17, 2015 Justice of the Supreme Court
2018
January 9, 2018 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Motto, hobbies

I am honored to have been appointed to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan after serving as a Justice of the Supreme Court for two years and eleven months. My thoughts on the occasion of my assumption of the office of Chief Justice were conveyed in my inauguration address. I resolve to devote my full efforts to all cases and tasks in order to realize the ideal of a court that is more relied upon by and closely serves the needs of the public and to bolster the integrity and stability of the rule of law.

Favorite Word or Term

Es irrt der Mensch, solang er strebt (“Man errs as long as he strives”).
Goethe, Faust

Hobbies

Reading a novel while listening to music that fits my mood has always been my favorite way of relaxing. If I had to choose a favorite book that I have re-read many times over the years, I would mention Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It not only offers a compelling story, but asks impressively insightful questions about the nature of justice and the responsibilities of jurists.

  1. About the Supreme Court
    1. Access to the Supreme Court
    2. Organization Chart of the Supreme Court
    3. Justices of the supreme court
      1. OTANI Naoto
      2. IKEGAMI Masayuki
      3. KOIKE Hiroshi
      4. KIZAWA Katsuyuki
      5. KANNO Hiroyuki
      6. YAMAGUCHI Atsushi
      7. TOKURA Saburo
      8. MIYAZAKI Yuko
      9. MIYAMA Takuya
      10. MIURA Mamoru
      11. KUSANO Koichi
      12. UGA Katsuya
      13. HAYASHI Michiharu
      14. OKAMURA Kazumi
      15. NAGAMINE Yasumasa
      16. Former Justices
    4. Topics
      1. Online meeting between the judiciaries of the UK and Japan
      2. Notice on Measures Taken at Courts to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
      3. Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      4. The former Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      5. The President of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Thailand Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      6. The Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      7. The Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      8. Judges from Germany, U.K. and U.S. Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      9. Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam visits the
      10. The Minister of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      11. The Attorney General of the Ministry of Justice of Israel Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      12. The Attorney General of Malaysia Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      13. Chief Justice of Canada Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      14. The President of the German-Japanese Association of Jurists Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      15. The Head of Division, Administrative, Finance and Social Courts, Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      16. Participants of “Japan-France Law Conference” Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      17. Participants of “Japan-Germany Constitutional Conversation” Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      18. Judges who speak in JSIP2019 Visit the Supreme Court of Japan