JapanCan I file a small claims case for online purchase fraud in Japan?
Yes, you can file a small claims case for online purchase fraud in Japan if the claim is ¥1.4 million or less and filed at a summary court within one year of the incident.
What the Law Says
Japan’s small claims procedure offers a simplified, expedited route for resolving consumer disputes—including online purchase fraud—provided certain statutory conditions are met.
Under Article 368-2 of the Code of Civil Procedure (Act No. 109 of 1996), small claims proceedings apply to monetary claims up to ¥1.4 million. This includes damages arising from fraudulent online transactions, such as non-delivery or counterfeit goods sold via e-commerce platforms.
The Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896) governs contractual obligations: Article 570 imposes liability on sellers for defects, while Article 415 establishes compensation for non-performance—including intentional deception constituting fraud (Article 709).
Crucially, the statute of limitations for contractual claims is five years (Civil Code Article 166), but for tort-based fraud claims it is three years (Article 724); however, courts often treat deceptive online sales as breach of contract, triggering the shorter one-year deadline under Article 546 for rescission or cancellation rights—practically guiding filing timing.
Statutory TextA small claims procedure may be used for claims of money not exceeding one million four hundred thousand yen.
— Code of Civil Procedure, Article 368-2
What to Do
Confirm your claim qualifies: total damages (e.g., payment + verifiable shipping/return costs) must be ≤ ¥1,400,000.
Gather evidence: screenshots of product listings, order confirmations, chat logs with seller, bank/payment records, and proof of non-delivery or defect (e.g., photos, third-party appraisal).
Identify the correct Summary Court: usually where the defendant resides or has a business office; for anonymous online sellers, use the platform operator’s registered office (under Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, Article 37-2).
File Form 1 (Petition for Small Claims) at the court with required documents and ¥1,000–¥2,000 filing fee (Court Fees Act, Article 1, Item 5).
Attend the single hearing date (typically scheduled within 30 days); prepare concise oral statements—no lawyers permitted unless both parties consent (Code of Civil Procedure, Article 368-10).
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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.