Revised Civil Code Promulgation Day
Historical AnniversariesWhat Is Revised Civil Code Promulgation Day?
December 22 marks the promulgation, in 1947, of the Act Partially Amending the Civil Code, which rewrote Books 4 (Relatives) and 5 (Inheritance) of Japan's Civil Code in full. It is known by a striking number: Act No. 222 of December 22, 1947.
The End of the Patriarchal Family System
Following the enactment of the Constitution of Japan, the law governing the family was rebuilt from the ground up.
- Promulgated: December 22, 1947 (Act No. 222 of 1947)
- Scope: a full revision of Books 4 (Relatives) and 5 (Inheritance)
- The central change: abolition of the patriarchal ie household system
- Family registers: the koseki came to be organized around a married couple
- Background: bringing the Civil Code into line with the spirit of the new Constitution
The Scholars Who Drafted It
The drafting committee was led by figures including Kenichi Okuno, Sakae Wagatsuma and Zennosuke Nakagawa. It was at this point that the principle of good faith and the doctrine against abuse of rights, now in Article 1 of the Civil Code, were written into the text.
Tips for Marking This Day
- Check how your own family register is organized
- Read about what changed when the ie system was abolished
- Find an occasion to talk with relatives about inheritance rules
- If you are heading home for the holidays, make it a conversation topic
A Date, and a Law Number, Full of Twos
December 22, 1947; Act No. 222. Coincidence made the date easy to remember -- and on it, the legal shape of the Japanese family changed for good.