The Public Prosecutors Office (検察庁, Kensatsu-chō)[3] is the agency for conducting prosecution in Japan.

It is an extraordinary organ (特別の機関, Tokubetsu no Kikan) under the Ministry of Justice (法務省, Hōmu-shō).

[6] The Public Prosecutor's Office Act (検察庁法, Kensatsu-chō Hō), which established the current prosecution organisations, was enforced on the same day as the new Constitution, 3 May 1947.

[8] The prosecutors' independence and impartiality are protected by law with some exceptions under Article 25 of the PPO, such as retirement age, physical/mental disability or supernumerary officials.

[9] The Prosecutor-General (検事総長, Kenji Sōchō) heads the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office.

[28][29] They assume a wide-ranging role in the Public Prosecutors Office, including work related to prosecution, such as safekeeping of evidence, and general affairs, such as accounts.

as 高検 Kōken) are located in 8 major cities in Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Sendai, Sapporo and Takamatsu.

In addition, the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office is responsible for the detention of a fugitive for the purpose of extradition upon a request from a foreign country.

as 地検 Chiken) are located in all the prefectural capitals (47) and 3 large cities in Hokkaido besides Sapporo.

as 特捜部 Tokusō-bu) or the Special Criminal Department (特別刑事部, Tokubetsu Keiji-bu)) for serious cases.

In particular, many well-known cases are prosecuted by the Special Investigation Department of the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office (東京地方検察庁特別捜査部, Tōkyō Chihō Kensatsu-chō Tokubetsu Sōsa-bu, known as 東京地検特捜部 Tōkyō Chiken Tokusō-bu).