NEWExplore the live 3D Global Career Radar with real-time hiring telemetry.Open
CM
The Career Machine
Skip to main content
Back to Law & Legal Studies
Shihō Shiken 司法試験JPexpert Level

Japanese Bar Examination (Shihō Shiken)

Organized by National Bar Examination Committee

One of the most difficult bar exams in the world with historically low pass rates. Recent reforms have improved pass rates but competition remains fierce.

Law & Legal Studies

Shihō Shiken 司法試験 · National Bar Examination Committee

expert Level
Duration
3-5 years
Pass Rate
Fees
¥28,000
Frequency
annual

Eligibility & Format

Graduation from law school (Hōka Daigakuin) OR passing preliminary exam. Japanese citizenship not required but strong Japanese proficiency essential.

paper basedinterview basedJapanese

Interactive Syllabus Tracker

Check off topics as you study. Saved in your browser.

Preparation0%

0 / 8 topics

Historical Cutoffs & Pass Rates

Exam cutoffs change annually. Ask AI for the latest competitive scoring trends.

Check Live Cutoffs

Target Career Pathways

Japanese Attorney (Bengoshi)Prosecutor JapanJudge Japan