Japan Judicial Scrivener Exam: Photo Spec and How to Create It
Make a Shihoshoshi (judicial scrivener) exam photo that meets the Ministry of Justice spec from your smartphone, for ¥200. Fully aligned with the Reiwa 5 (2023) passport-size update.
| Dimensions | 45mm × 35mm |
|---|---|
| Face length | Not specified |
| Top margin | Not specified |
| Background | No background — shoot against a plain, light-colored wall with even lighting and no clutter or shadows |
| Shoot-by window | Taken within 6 months of application |
| Official issuer | Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Japan |
View the official source ↗(Last verified: 2026-05-27)
Verbatim official spec
The verbatim official spec from the Ministry of Justice exam guide is shown below in the original Japanese.
- 「令和5年度の試験から、写真のサイズ等を変更します」
- 「無帽（宗教上又は医療上の理由により顔の輪郭を識別することができる範囲において頭部を布等で覆う者である場合を除く。）かつ正面から上半身を写した背景のない写真（申請前6か月以内に撮影したもの。大きさ縦4.5cm、横3.5cm（パスポートサイズ）。カラー写真。）」
- 「受験時に眼鏡を使用する受験者は、必ず眼鏡を着用した写真を貼り付けてください」
- 「【旧規格・令和 4 年度以前】5cm平方形」
- 「【旧規格・令和 4 年度以前】提出の日前３月以内」
Why this spec matters
The Judicial Scrivener (Shihoshoshi) is a Japanese national qualification under the Judicial Scrivener Act (enacted 1950 — among the oldest professional licenses still in force). The role covers exclusive authority over real-estate and commercial registration, drafting court-submitted documents, preparing inheritance documents such as estate division agreements, and (as a certified judicial scrivener) representing clients in summary-court litigation up to ¥1.4 million. The exam is run directly by the Ministry of Justice. The written exam is typically held on the first Sunday of July (multiple-choice in the morning, multiple-choice plus written answers in the afternoon), written-exam results are announced in October, the oral exam follows in late October, and the final results are released in November. Anyone may sit the exam regardless of age, education, or nationality. Reiwa 7 (2025) results: 14,418 sat, 751 passed (5.21% pass rate) — among the hardest professional-license exams in Japan. The most important photo-spec point is the major change from Reiwa 5 (2023). Prior to that, the spec was a 5cm × 5cm square, taken within 3 months. From Reiwa 5, the spec was unified to passport size (45mm tall × 35mm wide), with the shoot window relaxed to 6 months, "to reduce the burden on the public" per the Ministry of Justice notice. The same notice also updated the Land and House Investigator (Tochi Kaoku Chosashi) exam. Old prep-school materials or social-media posts still showing the 5cm-square spec are out of date — always follow the latest Ministry of Justice notice.
How to create it for ¥200
With a smartphone and ¥200, prepare a Judicial Scrivener exam photo that follows the post-Reiwa 5 spec.
- 1
Take the photo on your smartphone
Stand against a plain, light-colored wall in a bright room. Face the camera directly. No hat. Color (not B&W). If you wear glasses on exam day, wear them in the photo too. Neutral expression, eyes on the lens, upper body in frame. - 2
AI removes the background and aligns to spec
Upload the photo. AI removes the background and renders the new 45mm-by-35mm passport-size format introduced in Reiwa 5. You can fine-tune face position with 0.1mm precision. - 3
Print at a Japan convenience store via QR code, then glue onto the application
After payment, a QR code and 8-digit user number arrive by email. The exam application is typically distributed in May — print your photo at any Japan conbini and glue it to the designated field, then submit by mail or in person.
Create a Judicial Scrivener Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the post-Reiwa 5 spec (45mm tall × 35mm wide passport size). A QR code for convenience-store printing arrives by email.
Create now — ¥200What Ramune AI ID Photo offers
Even for a tight spec like My Number, you can finish the entire shoot → process → print workflow in your browser.
0.1mm face position adjustment
Drag the hairline, chin, and face-width guides — or type the millimetre value — to fit inside even a 4mm-wide regulatory window like the My Number spec.
Auto-generated L-size print sheet
Multiple photos optimally arranged on L-size paper with cut marks. Print directly at home or at a convenience store.
AI removes the background automatically
Walls or objects in the original shot are auto-removed; AI converts the photo to the plain background the spec requires.
AI skin smoothing with a natural finish
Auto-reduces blemishes and uneven tone while keeping a natural look. Choose between the original and the smoothed version.
Print at 55,000 convenience stores nationwide
Scan a QR code at the multi-copy machine in 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, Lawson, Ministop, or Poplar — L-size prints from ¥30.
5-language support, no app required
Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese — works entirely in your smartphone browser without installing an app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use a 5cm × 5cm square photo taken in Reiwa 4 (2022) or earlier?
Why did the spec change?
How is this different from the Administrative Scrivener exam?
How is this different from the Bar Exam (Shiho Shiken, for the legal profession)?
Was the Land and House Investigator exam also updated at the same time?
Related content
Create a Judicial Scrivener Exam Photo for ¥200
AI auto-adjusts your smartphone shot to the post-Reiwa 5 spec (45mm tall × 35mm wide passport size). A QR code for convenience-store printing arrives by email.
Create now — ¥200