"department of penal affairs") was a division of the eighth century Japanese government of the Imperial Court in Kyoto,[1] instituted in the Asuka period and formalized during the Heian period.

The ambit of the Gyōbu-shō activities encompassed, for example: The duties, responsibilities and focus of the ministry evolved over time.

The ritsuryō system of laws were interpreted and applied by bureaucracies which distinguished punishment (gyōbushō) and censorship (danjodai).

These were merged in 1871 when the Ministry of Justice (司法省, shihōshō) was established under the Constitution of the Empire of Japan.

[3] The Ministry of Justice brought together a judiciary and penal system management.