Harmed by public official. Can I claim against state?

What the Law Says

The State Redress Act establishes the legal basis for claiming compensation from the Japanese government when harm is caused by public officials performing official duties.

Under the State Redress Act, the state is liable for damages caused by public officials while exercising public authority. This includes police officers, tax officials, municipal staff, and other national or local government employees acting within the scope of their duties.

The law applies only when the official’s conduct was unlawful — for example, exceeding authority, violating procedure, or acting negligently — and directly caused measurable harm (e.g., physical injury, property damage, or financial loss).

You must file your claim within two years from the time you became aware of both the damage and the identity of the responsible official. If more than five years have passed since the harmful act occurred, the right to claim expires regardless of awareness.

Statutory Text

The State shall compensate for damage incurred by an individual as a result of the illegal act of a public official in the course of performing official duties.

— State Redress Act, Article 1 — Liability of the State

Statutory Text

The provisions of the preceding Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to local public entities.

— State Redress Act, Article 2 — Application to Local Public Entities

What to Do

Sources