Skip to main content

The Ministry of Justice Human Rights Hotline

The human rights hotline Japan's Ministry of Justice (MOJ) operates is the central-government channel for reporting discrimination and other human rights problems as a resident.1 A call connects you to counseling staff who listen, explain options, and can open a formal remedy process where warranted.2

Confirm current details with official sources

Procedures, fees, and requirements can change. Confirm current details at the Ministry of Justice Human Rights Bureau site. This article is general information, not legal advice; for your specific case, consult a licensed lawyer (bengoshi).

Overview​

The 人権相談 (jinken sōdan, "human rights consultation") system invites anyone who feels a daily-life issue is a human rights problem to consult rather than worry alone.1 The MOJ names unfair discrimination against foreigners and school bullying as examples, which signals that nationality-based treatment squarely belongs here.13

Counseling is delivered by Legal Affairs Bureau officials and 人権擁護委員 (jinken yōgo iin, "Human Rights Volunteers"), private citizens appointed by the Minister of Justice, who work with you to find the best solution.13 Together with the 人権擁護局 (jinken yōgo kyoku, "Human Rights Bureau") headquarters and its regional 法務局 (hōmukyoku, "Legal Affairs Bureau") offices, they form the MOJ Human Rights Bodies.4

Who this channel is for​

Any resident facing a human rights problem, including discrimination in housing, services, school, or daily interaction, can use this channel.1 The foreign-language tier exists for callers unable to speak Japanese fluently, regardless of nationality or visa status.13

This guidance is uniform nationwide. The hotline is reachable from anywhere in Japan and routes to the competent bureau, so there is no ward-specific variant to learn.

The two telephone lines at a glance​

The general Human Rights Hotline, called みんなの人権110番 (minna no jinken 110-ban, "general Human Rights Hotline"), is 0570-003-110 (as of 2026-09-08; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Justice).456 The dedicated Foreign-language Human Rights Hotline, or 外国語人権相談ダイヤル (gaikokugo jinken sōdan daiyaru, "Foreign-language Human Rights Hotline"), is 0570-090-911 (as of 2026-09-08).134

Use the general line in Japanese for various human rights problems including discrimination, abuse, and harassment.56 Use the foreign-language line when you cannot comfortably discuss your issue in Japanese.13

LineNumberWhen to use
General Human Rights Hotline0570-003-110Japanese counseling on discrimination, abuse, and harassment456
Foreign-language Human Rights Hotline0570-090-911Counseling through interpretation when Japanese is difficult13

The table reflects numbers published by the MOJ (as of 2026-09-08; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Justice).14

Languages, Hours, and How to Reach the Hotline​

The foreign-language tier covers English, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Nepali, Spanish, Indonesian, and Thai, ten languages in total (as of 2026-09-08; confirm current figures with the Ministry of Justice).13

Telephone hours are weekdays 9:00 to 17:00, closed on public holidays and December 29 through January 3 (as of 2026-09-08).13 Calls connect through a private multilingual interpretation service to the competent Legal Affairs Bureau, so expect an interpreter in the loop rather than a direct bilingual officer.13

Expect possible per-call charges on Navi Dial lines

A municipal reproduction of MOJ material states that call charges apply when contacting the foreign-language call center (as of 2026-09-08).7 The MOJ main pages do not publish a tariff, so treat this as a caution to check your carrier terms, not as a confirmed per-minute rate.

Face-to-face foreign-language counseling at main offices of Legal Affairs Bureaus and District Legal Affairs Bureaus nationwide uses the same ten languages and the same weekday 9:00 to 17:00 window (as of 2026-09-08).13 Older guides may still list six languages, namely English, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, and Vietnamese; that was the tier at Japan's 2018 review before Nepali, Spanish, Indonesian, and Thai were added (as of 2026-09-08 for the current ten).813

Foreign-language telephone line​

Call 0570-090-911 from anywhere in Japan during the weekday window above (as of 2026-09-08).13 Dial carefully, since the MOJ warns against misdialing this Navi Dial number.13

In-person and internet alternatives​

In-person consultation is available at Legal Affairs Bureau counters generally, and at main bureau offices for the foreign-language tier.613 Internet counseling through the jinken.go.jp forms accepts requests from anywhere in Japan, with follow-up by email, phone, or in-person meeting (as of 2026-09-08 for the ten-language internet claim, which rests on the MOJ leaflet).910

Internet replies take a few days, so urgent cases should use the foreigner counseling office or the foreign-language hotline instead.9 The general telephone line keeps different hours, namely weekdays 8:30 to 17:15 (as of 2026-09-08).6 Since October 1, 2025 the general line also sorts callers by voice guidance, with separate keys for women, older persons, persons with disabilities, and other issues (as of 2026-09-08).6

ChannelAccess detail
Foreign-language phone0570-090-911, weekdays 9:00-17:00, ten languages13
General phone0570-003-110, weekdays 8:30-17:156
In personBureau counters; foreign-language tier at main offices613
Internetjinken.go.jp forms; reply takes a few days; urgent cases use phone910

The access rows above reflect MOJ pages and leaflets current at the dates cited (as of 2026-09-08).16

What to Prepare Before You Call​

The MOJ remedy flow starts when an official or volunteer hears the details of your issue, so a clear factual summary is the most useful preparation.2 No MOJ primary publishes a required document checklist for an initial call, so treat the following as practical preparation rather than an official requirement.

Facts worth writing down first​

Write the date, place, people involved, exact wording used, witnesses, and any messages, photos, or documents you hold. Keep the account chronological and separate what was said from how it affected you.

Bring the same summary whether you call, visit, or file online. A consistent written record helps every later step use the same facts.

What Happens After You Call​

Counseling is available face to face, by phone, and online.2 Privacy and confidentiality are strictly kept across these channels.269 The service is free of charge, requires no attorney, and asks for no complicated filings.2 Staff listen carefully and then give advice suited to your circumstances.2

The process below shows how a consultation can develop into a formal remedy case.

Intake and counseling​

An official of the Legal Affairs Bureau or District Legal Affairs Bureau, or a Human Rights Volunteer, hears the details of the issue or violation.2 Counseling alone may resolve the question, for example by clarifying which counter actually handles your fact pattern.

Voluntary investigation and mediation​

Where needed, the Human Rights Bodies investigate on a case-by-case basis.2 Investigation is non-coercive and relies on voluntary cooperation from the persons concerned.2

Possible measures include assistance such as introducing relevant organizations or giving legal information, conciliation between the parties, instruction or recommendation to improve, a request to someone able to act effectively, notification to relevant administrative bodies, criminal referral under the Code of Criminal Procedure, and awareness-raising for the persons or community involved.2 In one published example, a foreign national refused a haircut because of nationality led the bureau to question the manager and instruct him not to discriminate unjustifiably.2

Remedy measures are not compulsory; they seek voluntary improvement with the understanding of those involved.2 A case can also end with no violation found, and the consulter is then told the result.2

Referral and information about further channels​

Assistance expressly includes introducing relevant organizations and giving legal information.2 For potentially litigable cases, the parallel lawyer tier sits with local bar associations rather than inside the bureau.

The Japan Federation of Bar Associations itself gives no legal advice and no lawyer referral for a specific dispute; it points callers to local bar association counseling, while the Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu) introduces the consultation service it considers most fitting.11 Local bar associations run legal counseling for foreigners by advance appointment, with days, languages, and fees varying by prefecture and center.11

As one dated illustration, Tokyo area centers list counseling on weekday afternoons in Japanese, English, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Bengali, Spanish, Vietnamese, and other languages, at 5,500 yen for 30 minutes including tax (as of 2026-09-08; confirm current figures with the Japan Federation of Bar Associations).11 Callers with low or no income may qualify for free counseling at some centers, subject to each center's rules (as of 2026-09-08).11 Bar associations in each prefecture also offer counseling in Japanese bookable through a common nationwide appointment number, 0570-783-110 (as of 2026-09-08).11

What the Hotline Cannot Do​

The bureau route is a low-cost first step in clear documented cases, but it is not a substitute for legal action in serious cases. Understanding its limits before you call keeps expectations realistic.

No binding orders or damages​

Bureau measures aim at voluntary improvement and include no orders, damages awards, or fines.2 The procedure is designed to start promptly and seek short-term resolution, yet it may not proceed depending on circumstances, so no outcome is guaranteed.2

When to contact a parallel resource directly​

There is no single nationwide bar-association anti-discrimination desk number; the parallel resource is the prefectural and local bar association counseling network, each contacted by advance appointment.11 Houterasu serves as the related national legal-support entry point referenced on the federation page.11

Contact a bar association directly when the facts may support a civil claim, when damages matter, or when you need advice tailored to your case rather than general bureau guidance. The bureau can still be the first call for documentation and triage.

Good to know​

The older Tokyo number in circulation​

Some secondary material repeats a Tokyo 03 number for this topic. No current MOJ page fetched for this article lists that number; the only current published numbers are 0570-003-110 for the general line and 0570-090-911 for the foreign-language line (as of 2026-09-08).13456 Dial the 0570 numbers and ignore older 03 guides unless the MOJ itself republishes them.

Navi Dial lines can incur call charges, and the bureau specifically warns against dialing the wrong number.713 Check charges with your carrier before a long call, and redial carefully if the routing sounds wrong.

Language lists in older guides​

Pre-2020 guides often show six languages because that was the tier at the time (as of the 2018 review record).8 Current MOJ pages show ten, adding Nepali, Spanish, Indonesian, and Thai (as of 2026-09-08).13 Always recheck the MOJ page on the day you call rather than relying on a saved screenshot.

Confidentiality without overpromising paperwork​

Consultations are confidential, and the remedy flow accepts intake by phone, visit, or internet.269 No MOJ primary states that a written allegation draws stronger follow-up than a phone call, so do not delay calling while perfecting paperwork.

See also​

References​

Footnotes​

  1. Ministry of Justice. "Human Rights Counseling for Foreigners" (EN). https://www.moj.go.jp/EN/JINKEN/jinken21.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24

  2. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Bureau. "Remedy Procedures" (EN). https://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/HB/remedy/index.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17

  3. 法務省. 「外国人のための人権相談」. https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken21.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19

  4. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Bureau. "Human Rights Bureau" top page (EN). https://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/HB/hb.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Bureau. "Telephone Counseling" (EN). https://www.moj.go.jp/ENGLISH/HB/counseling/hotline.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  6. 法務省. 「常設相談所（法務局・地方法務局・支局内）」 (general line, JA, incl. hours and Oct 2025 IVR notice). https://www.moj.go.jp/JINKEN/jinken20.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12

  7. City of Gujo reproduction of MOJ foreign-language hotline leaflet (PDF, call-charge notice). https://www.city.gujo.gifu.jp/life/docs/moj_foreign-language_human_rights_hotline.pdf ↩ ↩2

  8. United Nations OHCHR. "Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination examines the report of Japan" (2018-08, MOJ delegation statement on six-language hotline). https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2018/08/committee-elimination-racial-discrimination-examines-report-japan ↩ ↩2

  9. Ministry of Justice, Human Rights Bodies. "The human rights counseling services on the Internet: How to Use" (EN). https://www.jinken.go.jp/goriyouannai_en/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  10. Ministry of Justice. "Human Rights Counseling Leaflet in English" (PDF, Navi Dial notice and 10-language internet counseling). https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001420515.pdf ↩ ↩2

  11. Japan Federation of Bar Associations. "Legal Counseling for Foreigners" (EN). https://www.nichibenren.or.jp/en/legalinfo/counceling.html ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7