Japan’s Supreme Court has formally requested that a parliamentary commission file a petition to the Judge Impeachment Court. The move seeks the dismissal of a sitting judge accused of habitual online gambling and embezzlement, as reported by local media.
The judge, Akifumi Morimoto, 52, currently assigned to the Niigata Summary Court, was indicted without arrest on April 17 by the Akita District Public Prosecutors Office. Prosecutors allege that between April and September 2023, while residing in Akita Prefecture, Morimoto accessed an online casino site more than 60,000 times using his smartphone and tablet, placing bets on games such as baccarat.
According to the indictment, Morimoto is also accused of embezzling approximately ¥2.79m from a bank account he managed for a national civil servants’ dormitory association in Yokote City. Prosecutors allege the funds were transferred into his personal account between April 2023 and May 2025, with some of the money reportedly used for online gambling.
The Supreme Court said Morimoto’s conduct “amounted to a delinquency undermining the dignity of judges.” If the parliamentary commission files the petition, the Judge Impeachment Court will determine whether he should be removed from office. Morimoto has admitted to the allegations and expressed remorse, according to the court.
Masamichi Itatsu, head of the Supreme Court’s Personnel Affairs Bureau, described the move as “very regrettable,” adding that the judiciary would work to restore public trust. The case marks a rare step toward judicial dismissal in Japan, where impeachment proceedings against judges remain uncommon.
Only eight judges have been dismissed in Japan since World War II, highlighting the rarity of impeachment proceedings
