Judicial Scrivener Day

What Is Judicial Scrivener Day?

August 3rd is "Shiho Shoshi no Hi" (Judicial Scrivener Day) in Japan, commemorating the day in 1872 when the "Shiho Shokumu Teisei" (Judicial Duties Regulation) was established, creating the "daishonin" (scrivener) profession -- the forerunner of today's judicial scriveners.

Three Professions Born From the Judicial Duties Regulation

The Judicial Duties Regulation, drawing on legal systems from France and the Netherlands, was established as a law spanning 22 chapters and 108 articles. It created three professions that would go on to support Japan's legal system.

• Shoshonin: the forerunner of today's notaries public
• Daishonin: responsible for preparing documents submitted to courts, the forerunner of today's judicial scriveners
• Daigennin: the forerunner of today's attorneys

From "Daishonin" to "Shiho Shoshi"

Through subsequent reforms to the legal system, the daishonin profession evolved into what is known today as "shiho shoshi" (judicial scrivener) -- a profession firmly established in tasks closely tied to everyday life, including real estate and commercial registration and preparing documents for court submission. The profession marked its 150th anniversary in 2022.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Learn about the role that judicial scriveners play
• Learn about everyday procedures involving judicial scriveners, such as real estate registration and inheritance paperwork
• Trace the history of judicial system reform in the early Meiji era
• Check for events or seminars held by local judicial scrivener associations

A Profession That Has Supported Citizens' Legal Lives for Over 150 Years

Judicial scriveners stand between citizens and public institutions like courts and legal affairs bureaus, quietly supporting people through complex legal procedures. Let August 3rd be a day to reflect on the history and role of this profession, born in the early years of the Meiji era.