noun
extraordinary appeal; emergency appeal
A special appeal to the Supreme Court of Japan, filed by the prosecutor-general when a final judgment is believed to be in violation of law. Rare in practice.
非常上告は、確定判決に対して検事総長が法律違反を理由に最高裁判所に申し立てる特別な手続きです。
An extraordinary appeal is a special procedure in which the prosecutor-general petitions the Supreme Court against a final judgment on the grounds of a legal violation.
Compound of 非常 (emergency, extraordinary) and 上告 (appeal to a higher court). The term is a direct legal borrowing from the concept of extraordinary appeal in civil law systems.