Professor Shotaro HAMAMOTO 

Greeting from the President

Welcome to the website of the Japanese Society of International Law. This site serves as a platform for information exchange among Society members and provides resources on international law to practicing lawyers, media professionals, students, citizens, and others interested in international law.

Established in 1897, the Japanese Society of International Law is Japan’s oldest academic society dedicated to legal studies. Its founding as the nation’s first legal studies society was driven by a commitment to the principles of “bunmei kaika (civilization and enlightenment)” and “fukoku kyohei (enriching the country, strengthening the military)”, as articulated in the “Launching Address” of the inaugural issue (1902) of the Society’s journal, Kokusaiho Zassi (also titled Revue de droit international in French). Excerpts from this address are provided below.


Japan’s adoption of international law had two objectives: domestically, to elevate the cultural standards of its people; and internationally, to fulfill its rights and obligations as a civilized nation. Japan embraced international law voluntarily and proactively. Its reception of international law marked a significant shift, transforming international law from a European or Christian construct into a truly international one. The importance of justice and humanity cannot be overstated, and collaboration with Western legal academics is essential to improving and advancing international law for the betterment of human society.

Reflecting on recent history, the Sino-Japanese War underscored Japan’s rise as a global power and highlighted the need to educate the Qing people on international law. Today, in the interest of the people in the world, justice, and peace, we must work with other Powers to elevate the cultural standards of the Chinese people, promote the understanding of international law among them, and strive for the maintenance of peace and the development of international law. At the same time, when emergencies occur, it is imperative that we collaborate with other Powers to act in accordance with the law of war.


The Society’s founding principles, where a genuine desire to contribute to humanity peacefully coexists with the pragmatic use of international law as a tool for asserting hegemony over neighboring countries, offer valuable lessons for us in the 21st century. International law is certainly there “for the sake of human society” and “justice and humanity.” However, depending on how it is applied, it can also serve as a convenient cover for self-serving agendas.

There is nothing inherently wrong with realpolitik. As NINOMIYA Sontoku (1787-1856) is reputed to have said (although it may be a later interpretation of his ideas), “Economy without morality is a sin; morality without economy is nonsense”. In a similar vein, we might say, “Diplomacy without international law is a sin; international law that cannot be applied in diplomacy is nonsense”. We face the challenging task of striking the right balance, as we risk either committing sin or profess nonsense. Furthermore, it is not enough to merely possess international law that can be used in diplomacy, as the “Launching Address” subtly warns us.

Our predecessors likely understood that international law should not be nonsensical. In 1912, Kokusaiho Zassi was renamed Kokusaiho Gaiko Zassi or the Journal of International Law and Diplomacy. While today it is common to find journals with “international law and policy” in their titles, this forward-thinking change even preceded the Revue de droit international de sciences diplomatiques et politiques launched in Geneva in 1926. This reflects the wisdom of the pioneers of that era. Continuing this tradition, our Society includes members from international law, private international law, and international politics and diplomatic history, with a diverse membership ranging from academics and government officials to practicing lawyers and postgraduate students.

With over 800 members, the Society is one of the largest of the kind globally. Enhancing the quality of discussions is essential, and our annual research conference fosters lively exchanges of ideas, including call for papers and sessions. The Journal of International Law and Diplomacy publishes high-quality articles, and maintaining and enhancing this standard is our primary mission.

The phrase “we are living in a turbulent era” has been uttered throughout history, yet it is difficult to deny its relevance today. Although the saying “today’s youngsters are disgraceful” can be traced back at least to ancient Egypt, with AI poised to take over a significant portion of our jobs in the near future, we must actively incorporate the ideas and perspectives of the “disgraceful” youth—the digital native generation. Expanding the number of open calls for papers at annual research conferences, establishing the ODA Shigeru Award for outstanding student essays (thanks to the generosity of Judge ODA Shigeru, who served three terms over 27 years at the International Court of Justice), and actively involving young members in the Society’s various committees all stem from this sense of urgency. While it is often said that “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down”, I am confident that many within the Society continue to strive to stand out, even after being hammered repeatedly.

The term “code”, which originally referred to a set of laws and regulations, has also come to mean “secret code”. This is partly due to the monopoly of knowledge by expert lawyers. However, in a democratic society, the law should not be the exclusive domain of rulers and experts. In addition to its activities for experts, the Society has been working to broaden and deepen public understanding of international law through cooperation with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, expert comments for the general public, and public lectures. We welcome any feedback or criticisms regarding the Society’s activities, which will help us to improve our work.

August 2024

HAMAMOTO Shotaro

President, Japanese Society of International Law