2023 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Law (Constitutional Law) A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Masayuki Shinojima
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Mon (S2-202(S223))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S101
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
[Summary]
This course offers:
Overview of the entire body of the Constitution of Japan and further understanding of provisions related with guarantee of the fundamental human rights,
And
Basic methodology of legal thinking through interpretation and application of provisions of human rights.
[aim]
Though most of you may have already learned basic information of the Constitution through primary educational curriculum, unfortunately this is useless under your present situation, because laws including the Constitution, are tools used in our society. Your knowledge is valuable when you use it in the right manner. Let us try to use practically your knowledge of the Constitution.
This course focuses on two aims: To learn further knowledge of the human rights provisions of the Constitution, which are indispensable for us to live with dignity as human beings. To have experience of legal thought, which will help us in our further lives, by practically interpreting and applying those provisions with case studies.
Course description and aims
To comprehend entire body of the Constitution and provisions of guarantee of fundamental human rights.
To acquire contents and boundaries of human rights, and understand basic methodology for interpretation of laws.
To acquire legal background using the Constitution as a material, and to derive and document your own answer from a legal point of view by using the legal syllogism in solving problems.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
I will explain methodology of legal mind based on my career of an attorney at law, on assumption using the Constitution and other laws in a court.
Keywords
the Constitution, Human rights, Culture
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
First, we overview the Constitution including of governmental functions for beginners. In the middle and second half, we learn common theories, and then go into details of human rights provisions.
In parallel, basic methodology of legal thinking, such as legal syllogism and interpretations will be instructed.
At the end of each lecture, some case studies will be provided as an assignment (I will give some hints in the lecture). For resolving cases, it is required to apply the knowledge of human rights provisions into legal methodology and to document the process of your thought. Submission of assignments is not obligatory, but I strongly recommend submitting them as a training for the final examination.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | 1. Guidance 2. Introduction to laws and the Constitution | 1. Understand roles of laws and the Constitution in society 2. Try to use legal syllogism |
| Class 2 | Understanding philosophy of the Constitution - Comprehension of Constitutionalism, Rule of law, Popular sovereignty, Government Structures, systems those maintain human rights | 1. Understand the philosophy behind the terms of the Constitution, referring to the history of the constitutional philosophy 2. Try to practice legal syllogism |
| Class 3 | 1. Natures, categories, scope and boundaries of human rights, and standards of constitutionality 2. Learn methodology of legal interpretation of the Constitution | 1. Read provisions of human rights, capturing arguments common with those provisions 2. Try to interpret provisions of human rights |
| Class 4 | 1. Equality under the law, political freedom, and those boundaries I 2. How to interpret each provision of human rights | 1. Comprehend arguments related with equality under the law and freedom of conscience and thought. 2. Try to document legal interpretation of the Constitution (Use legal syllogism if you can) |
| Class 5 | 1. Political freedom and boundaries II 2. Overview of methodology of legal resolution | 1. Comprehend arguments of freedom of speech 2. Try to resolve legal problem by using interpretation of Constitution |
| Class 6 | 1. Economical freedom, "Due process of law", social human rights and those boundaries 2. Practice documentation of legal thiking by human rights provisions | 1. Comprehend arguments of each human right 2. Try to documentation your legal thinking for resolution of a problem entirely |
| Class 7 | 1. Right to access to public service, right to vote and concepts of "New human rights" 2. Whati is the application of legal thiking | 1. Comprehend arguments of each human right. 2. Prepare for the final examination |
| Class 8 | Final Exam （In case of face-to-face class) |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, it is recommended to read the corresponding part of the textbook in advance with referring to the course material. Most effective way for review is to make documentation using legal methodology you learned when you answer case studies.
ATTENTION; you could not understand laws and legal mind just by reading textbooks.
Textbook(s)
[Please read the part corresponding to the lecture content in advance.]
Nobuyoshi Ashibe (Kazuyuki Takahashi) “Constitution (8th edition)” (2023, Iwanami Shoten) (Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
[For beginners]
Supervised by Akira Ikegami, original work by Masanori Kadowaki, drawing by Hiroki Subiki "Manga Our Japanese Constitution" (2019, Shuei-sha)(Japanese)
[For students learning more]
Naoto Katagiri et al. "Introduction to the Constitution to One Step Ahead (2nd Editon)" (2021, Yuhikaku)(Japanese)
Toshiyuki Munesue et al. “Case Book of Fundamental Human Rights: To the World of the Constitution (6th Edition)” (2019, Yuhikaku Selection)(Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
The final examination (if we can have classes in face -to-face)
OR
Term-end report with small assignments on attendance (if we have online classes)
ATTENTION: In case of online, the 8th lecture will not be held.
Related courses
- LAH.S201 ： Law (Constitutional Law) Ｂ
- LAH.S301 ： Law (Constitutional Law) C
- LAH.S102 ： Law (Civil Law) A
Prerequisites
Whoever interested in the Constitution or laws is welcomed.
I personally recommend my course to everyone who wishes to train to make documents reasonably and effectively
Other
The Constitution of Japan is surely a rule regulating our lives as the same of other laws, though it is often argued in political aspect in our country. I recommend to attending to my class because knowledge of the Constitution surely make you develop a sense of basic legalmind useful in your social life.
Also, to think legally and to describe the process your thiking will be useful for your academic life and future.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not attend my class, your legal argument will not likely reach the level of standard.
Thanks.