Translation guide
In Japan, the High Court (高等裁判所) is an intermediate appellate court between District/Family Courts and the Supreme Court. This guide explains how to refer to it in Japanese, including common abbreviations and context-dependent usage.
Referring to the High Court of Japan in general or as a judicial body.
The formal, official name for a High Court in Japan. Use in legal documents, news, and formal contexts.
高等裁判所に控訴した。
They appealed to the High Court.
Common abbreviation of 高等裁判所. Widely used in news, conversation, and less formal writing.
高裁の判決が言い渡された。
The High Court ruling was handed down.
Naming a particular High Court, such as the Tokyo High Court.
Prefix with the location name. There are eight High Courts in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo, and Takamatsu.
Abbreviated form, common in media and everyday speech.
東京高裁
Tokyo High Court
Referring to a high court in a non-Japanese context, such as the High Court of Australia or England and Wales.
For well-known foreign courts, 高等裁判所 is often used. Alternatively, the English name may be transliterated into katakana with an explanatory note.
オーストラリア高等裁判所
High Court of Australia
イングランド・ウェールズ高等法院
High Court of England and Wales
高裁 is the standard abbreviation and is safe to use in most contexts except extremely formal legal documents. It is analogous to saying 'High Court' instead of 'High Court of Justice' in English.
The Japanese Supreme Court is 最高裁判所 (Saikō Saibansho), often abbreviated as 最高裁. Do not confuse 高裁 (High Court) with 最高裁 (Supreme Court).