JapanStatute of limitations for product liability claims?
In Japan, the statute of limitations for product liability claims is 3 years from when the victim knows of the damage and the responsible party, or 10 years from when the defective product was delivered — whichever expires first.
What the Law Says
Japan’s Product Liability Act (PL Act) sets special time limits for claims arising from defective products. These limits override the general tort limitation period under the Civil Code, but interact with it in specific ways.
Under the Product Liability Act, a claim for damages caused by a defective product must be brought within 3 years after the injured person becomes aware of both the damage and the identity of the responsible manufacturer or supplier.
Even if the injured person does not discover the damage or responsible party within that time, the right to claim is extinguished 10 years after the defective product was delivered to the user or consumer.
This 10-year outer limit applies regardless of when the injury or defect was discovered. However, if the Civil Code’s general tort limitation period (3 years from knowledge, or 20 years from the act) would expire earlier, that shorter period may apply — though the PL Act’s 3/10-year rule is dominant for qualifying product liability cases.
The PL Act explicitly states that its provisions on limitation periods take precedence over conflicting provisions in other laws — including the Civil Code — for claims falling under the PL Act.
Statutory TextThe right to claim damages under the preceding Article shall be extinguished after the expiration of three years from the time when the victim or his/her legal representative becomes aware of the damage and the identity of the person liable for the damages.
— Product Liability Act, s. 5, para. 1
Statutory TextThe right to claim damages under the preceding Article shall also be extinguished after the expiration of ten years from the time when the product causing the damage was delivered.
— Product Liability Act, s. 5, para. 2
Statutory TextThe provisions of the preceding two paragraphs shall apply notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in other laws.
— Product Liability Act, s. 5, para. 3
What to Do
Document the date you first noticed the injury or damage and when you identified the product and its manufacturer.
File your claim in court no later than 3 years after becoming aware of both the damage and the responsible party.
If you discovered the issue late, confirm whether 10 years have passed since the product was delivered — if so, your claim is time-barred.
Consult a Japanese-licensed attorney promptly to assess whether exceptions (e.g., fraud or concealment delaying discovery) might extend the deadline.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.