Overview
Japan has two linked national exams, both run by the Bar Examination Committee under the Ministry of Justice. The bar examination (司法試験, shihō shiken) is the main exam for people who want to become judges, prosecutors or lawyers. The preliminary examination (司法試験予備試験, yobi shiken) is a separate exam whose pass gives the same eligibility to sit the bar examination as completing law school.
Who can apply
Bar examination. You can sit it if you meet one of three conditions: you have completed a law school course; you have passed the preliminary examination; or you are enrolled in a law school course and your university head has certified you for the in-course route. For the first two routes, the eligibility period runs for five years from the first 1 April after you gain eligibility. For the in-course route, it runs until you finish or leave the course, or five years from the first exam you sit, whichever is shorter.
Preliminary examination. The Ministry's Q&A states that there is no eligibility or time-period restriction.
Exam pattern
Bar examination 2026. It has an essay part and a short-answer part.
| Part | Papers |
|---|---|
| Essay | Public law, two questions (2 hours each); civil law, three questions (2 hours each); criminal law, two questions (2 hours each); one elective subject (3 hours) |
| Short-answer | Constitutional law (50 minutes); civil law (1 hour 15 minutes); criminal law (50 minutes) |
The elective subjects listed in the candidate guide include insolvency law, tax law, intellectual property law, labour law and environmental law.
Preliminary examination 2026. It has three stages, taken in order.
| Stage | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Short-answer (one day) | Civil law, commercial law and civil procedure (1.5 hours); constitutional and administrative law (1 hour); criminal law and criminal procedure (1 hour); general education (1.5 hours) |
| Essay (two days) | Constitutional and administrative law; criminal law and criminal procedure; civil law, commercial law and civil procedure; legal practice basics (civil and criminal); one elective subject |
| Oral | Legal practice basics, civil and criminal |
Marking and results
Both exams announce results in stages. In the preliminary examination, you must pass each stage to go on to the next. The bar examination announces short-answer results first and then final results. The sources reviewed do not state pass marks.
Important dates
Bar examination 2026
Notice published: 9 January 2026.
Online applications: 9 March to 2 April 2026. Postal applications: 19 March to 2 April 2026 (postmark).
Exam days: 15, 16, 18 and 19 July 2026 (essay papers first, short-answer papers on 19 July).
Short-answer results: 6 August 2026.
Final results: 11 November 2026.
Preliminary examination 2026
Notice published: 9 January 2026.
Online applications: 16 February to 13 March 2026. Postal applications: 2 March to 13 March 2026.
Short-answer exam: 19 July 2026; results 6 August 2026.
Essay exam: 12 and 13 September 2026; results 17 December 2026.
Oral exam: 23 and 24 January 2027; final results 4 February 2027.
The oral exam is held in or near Tokyo, and the short-answer exam in seven city areas (Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka). The essay exam is held in principle in all 47 prefectures.
Fees
For 2026, the bar examination fee is 31,000 yen for an online application (paid by Pay-easy) and 32,000 yen in revenue stamps for a postal application. The preliminary examination fee is 20,000 yen online and 21,000 yen in revenue stamps by post.
How to apply
Candidates can apply online or by post. Online applications are made through the government's Mynaportal service with a valid My Number card. Postal applicants first request an application form by post, because the Ministry no longer hands out forms in person or through law schools. The Ministry publishes a separate application guide for each exam and each method.
Preparation tips
Read the candidate guide for the year you apply, because schedules, fees and procedures are set each year.
Choose your elective subject when you apply. The guide has a separate section on changing it.
Practise typing answers, since the Ministry's Q&A describes computer-based entry for written answers.
Can I take the bar examination without going to law school?
Yes, by passing the preliminary examination. Its pass gives eligibility to sit the bar examination.
Does the preliminary examination have an education requirement?
No. The Ministry's Q&A says there is no eligibility or period restriction.