ABSTRACT

This article analyses attempts by City of Osaka public servants to use the Japanese legal system to thwart the policies of controversial mayor, Tōru Hashimoto (2011 to 2015). The cases demonstrate a clash between conservative and progressive views about the line between state and public realms which is at the heart of debates about privacy. The cases’ other key theme, tattoos, and their historically ambiguous position in Japanese society, further exacerbated the tension between the two sides during Hashimoto’s term of office, with young lawyers taking up the fight on behalf of the public servants in court. The role of the courts and the use of the legal system to advance personal rights are another overarching theme of this article. The cases are analysed from a doctrinal perspective whilst their social and political contexts are also examined.

摘要

本文分析了大阪市公务员试图利用日本法律制度来阻挠有争议的市长桥本彻（2011 年至 2015 年）的政策。这些案例表明，保守派和进步派的观点在国家和公共领域之间的界限上存在冲突，这是关于隐私的辩论的核心。这些案件的另一个关键主题，纹身，以及它们在日本社会历史上的模糊地位，进一步加剧了桥本任期内双方之间的紧张关系，年轻的律师代表公务员出庭抗争。法院的作用和利用法律制度促进个人权利是本文的另一个首要主题。这些案例从教义的角度进行分析，同时也审查了它们的社会和政治背景。