JapanCan I sue for a defective consumer product in Small Claims Court in Japan?
Yes, you can sue for a defective consumer product in Japan's Small Claims Court (Summary Court) if the claim is ¥1.4 million or less and filed within 5 years of discovering the defect.
What the Law Says
Japan’s small claims system operates through Summary Courts (Kan’i Saibansho), which handle straightforward civil disputes efficiently. Consumer product defect claims fall under both the Civil Code and the Product Liability Act (PL Act), with specific procedural rules in the Code of Civil Procedure.
Under Article 368-2 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996), Summary Courts have jurisdiction over monetary claims up to ¥1,400,000. This includes damages arising from defective products, such as personal injury, property damage, or breach of warranty.
The Product Liability Act (Act No. 85 of 1994) imposes strict liability on manufacturers for defects causing harm (Art. 3), but plaintiffs must still prove causation and damage. Claims must be filed within five years from when the victim knew—or should have known—of the damage and the responsible party (PL Act Art. 5).
Unlike some jurisdictions, Japan does not require pre-filing mediation for small claims, though courts may encourage settlement. The Summary Court procedure is oral, simplified, and typically resolved in one or two hearings without lawyers required (Civil Procedure Act Art. 371).
Statutory TextA summary court shall have jurisdiction over an action in which the amount in controversy does not exceed one million four hundred thousand yen.
— Code of Civil Procedure, Art. 368-2
Statutory TextThe right to claim damages… shall be extinguished after the expiration of five years from the time the victim knew of the damage and the identity of the person liable.
— Product Liability Act, Art. 5
What to Do
Confirm your claim is ≤ ¥1,400,000 and filed within 5 years of discovering the defect and responsible party.
Gather evidence: purchase receipt, photos/videos of the defect, medical reports (if injured), repair estimates, and correspondence with the seller/manufacturer.
File a Statement of Claim (Kiso-sho) at your local Summary Court using Form No. 1 (available online or at the court); pay the fixed filing fee of ¥1,000–¥2,000 depending on claim amount.
Attend the hearing prepared to explain facts clearly in Japanese; bring all original documents and consider bringing a certified translation if non-Japanese speaker.
If the court orders payment and the defendant refuses, apply for enforcement (kyosei shikkō) through the same court — this may include wage garnishment or asset seizure.
Sources
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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: 2026-10-11.