Justices of the Supreme Court

Supreme Court of Japan > About the Supreme Court > Justices of the supreme court > SAKAI Toru

Justice
SAKAI, Toru
Date of Birth: July 17, 1958

image:SAKAI, Toru

Career

Education

Graduated from the University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law in 1982

Qualification

Appointed as a legal apprentice in 1982

Professional Career:

1984
Appointed as a Public Prosecutor, and then, assigned to Sapporo District Public Prosecutors Office, Muroran Branch of Sapporo District Public Prosecutors Office, Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office, Otsu District Public Prosecutors Office
1992
Assigned to Judicial System and Research Department, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Justice
1995
Public Prosecutor, Hachioji Branch of Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
1996
Public Prosecutor, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
1998
Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Asahikawa District Public Prosecutors Office
2000
Public Prosecutor, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2005
Public Prosecutor, Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office
2005
Public Prosecutor, Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office
2006
Public Prosecutor, Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office
2008
Director, Traffic Department, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2010
Director, Public Security Department, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2010
Director, Special Investigation Department, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2012
Chief Prosecutor, Fukushima District Public Prosecutors Office
2013
Deputy Chief Prosecutor, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2014
Deputy Superintending Prosecutor, Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office
2016
Chief Prosecutor, Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office
2017
Superintending Prosecutor, Sendai High Public Prosecutors Office
2018
Deputy Prosecutor-General
2020
Superintending Prosecutor, Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office
2021
Retired
2021
September 3, 2021 Justice of the Supreme Court

Motto, hobbies, etc.

Things to Keep in Mind as a Justice

We are in the midst of dramatic changes in the social environments inside and outside the country, and due to these changes, cases brought to court have been becoming more complicated, difficult and diverse than before. For this reason, in order to make proper and reasonable judgments, I think that it is essential to learn new things proactively. I will perform my duties in a cordial manner, with a mindset to continue learning and a humble attitude, aiming to realize a justice system trusted by the people.

Favorite Words

Since about two or three years ago, I have lived keeping in mind a verse related to Buddhism: "Mind not biased toward, mind not attached to, and mind not prepossessed by, anything." However, as I think that it is necessary for a legal professional to attach themselves to important points, I have replaced "mind not attached to" with "mind not too attached to." What is meant by this verse is also helpful in trials at court.

Books I Read Recently and Found Impressive

After society began suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, I reread "The Plague" written by Albert Camus. My impression of this book has greatly changed from that when I had read it before.
I also read "A Journal of the Plague Year" written by Daniel Defoe who is famous for "The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." It is fiction but as real as nonfiction. I compared the story of this book with people's reaction to COVID-19 before vaccination became available, and thought that it is interesting that people react to this kind of event in a similar manner even in different times and different countries.

Favorite Things to Do

Since about eight years ago, I have continued taking walks in the weekday mornings and on weekends basically as my daily routine. I also like to go to cinemas and museums, but I have recently refrained from doing so in consideration of the spread of COVID-19.

  1. About the Supreme Court
    1. Access to the Supreme Court
    2. Organization Chart of the Supreme Court
    3. Justices of the supreme court
      1. TOKURA Saburo
      2. YAMAGUCHI Atsushi
      3. MIYAMA Takuya
      4. MIURA Mamoru
      5. KUSANO Koichi
      6. UGA Katsuya
      7. HAYASHI Michiharu
      8. OKAMURA Kazumi
      9. NAGAMINE Yasumasa
      10. YASUNAMI Ryosuke
      11. WATANABE Eriko
      12. OKA Masaaki
      13. SAKAI Toru
      14. IMASAKI Yukihiko
      15. OJIMA Akira
      16. Former Justices
    4. Topics
      1. Message on the 25th anniversary of Japan becoming an observer to the CoE
      2. FY2020 Study Meeting on Foreign Judiciary Practices
      3. Online Lecture by Former Senior Judge of the Court of Protection in the U.K.
      4. FY2021 Study Meeting on Foreign Judiciary Practices
      5. Online lecture meeting with the director of École nationale des greffes
      6. Online meeting between the judiciaries of the UK and Japan
      7. Japan-France Online Judicial Meeting
      8. Notice on Measures Taken at Courts to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
      9. Deputy Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      10. The former Deputy President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      11. The President of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Thailand Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      12. The Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      13. The Judge of the European Court of Human Rights Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      14. Judges from Germany, U.K. and U.S. Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      15. Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam visits the
      16. The Minister of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      17. The Attorney General of the Ministry of Justice of Israel Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      18. The Attorney General of Malaysia Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      19. Chief Justice of Canada Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      20. The President of the German-Japanese Association of Jurists Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      21. The Head of Division, Administrative, Finance and Social Courts, Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection of Germany Visits the Supreme Court of Japan
      22. Participants of “Japan-France Law Conference” Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      23. Participants of “Japan-Germany Constitutional Conversation” Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      24. Judges who speak in JSIP2019 Visit the Supreme Court of Japan
      25. Errata in Court Decisions Posted on the Japanese Version of the Court Website and in the Supreme Court Civil and Criminal Case Law Report
      26. Online Seminar between the Court of Cassation, France, and the Supreme Court, Japan
      27. Online lecture meeting with Master of the Rolls in England and Wales
      28. The Honorary President of the German-Japanese Association of Jurists Visited the Supreme Court of Japan
      29. Online Judicial Meeting with Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
      30. Outline of the Press Conference by Chief Justice OTANI on Constitution Memorial Day (2022.6)
      31. Outline of the Press Conference by Chief Justice Tokura on 24 June, 2022
      32. Online lecture was held by the President of the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf, Germany.
      33. Chief Justice TOKURA and Justice NAGAMINE received British Ambassador to Japan at the Supreme Court
      34. Online Judicial Meeting with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada
      35. Online Judicial Meeting with President of the European Court of Human Rights
      36. Justices of the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Thailand visited the Supreme Court of Japan(2023.2)
    5. Committees