We are pleased to announce the launch of a project to build a pro bono ecosystem for public interest litigation in Japan, with support from the U.S.-Japan Foundation.

Around the world, including in Japan, lawyers are expected to dedicate a portion of their time to public interest work through pro bono activities. In particular, in Western countries, pro bono work by lawyers is deeply embedded in the legal culture, and it plays a vital role in supporting public interest litigation and contributing to its success.

In contrast, pro bono work in Japan is still developing and currently undertaken by only a limited number of lawyers. Notably, foreign-licensed attorneys based in Japan often express a desire to engage in public interest work through pro bono activities. However, due to language and cultural barriers, they have had few opportunities to fulfill this interest in practice.

LEDGE was established as Japan’s first organization to exclusively engage in public interest litigation and, as of May 2025, has supported a total of eight such cases. By building a more structured framework for pro bono support, LEDGE aims to increase the number of legal professionals involved, thereby enhancing the impact and reach of each case.

Thanks to a grant from the U.S.-Japan Foundation, this new project to establish a pro bono ecosystem is now underway. Throughout the project period, LEDGE will work primarily in collaboration with U.S. law firms to build a sustainable support structure for public interest litigation in Japan, while also fostering a culture of pro bono legal service in the country.

You can read more about LEDGE and the project in an article by the U.S.-Japan Foundation titled “Bridging Legal Worlds: How U.S.-Japan Partnerships Are Expanding Access to Justice.”