Matsumoto Hiroshi has been appointed as the chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office [1].
The appointment comes at a critical time for the agency, as it seeks to restore public trust following a series of internal scandals. These include the disciplinary dismissal of staff and the criminal trial of a former special investigations prosecutor [1].
Matsumoto, 61 [1], took office on Aug. 12, 2026 [2]. He held a press conference on Aug. 17, 2026, in the Kasumigaseki government district of Tokyo to outline his priorities for the office [2].
During the conference, Matsumoto said he intends to carry out his duties with fairness and integrity to respond to the trust of the public. He said that losing the trust of the people acts as a factor that hinders the proper execution of prosecutorial activities [1].
As the chief of the Tokyo High Prosecutors Office, Matsumoto now serves as the second-highest ranking official in the Japanese prosecution system [1]. He said that the fair and honest performance of duties by the district prosecutors leads to the safety and security of the residents in the region [3].
Matsumoto said his primary goal is to ensure the office meets the expectations of the citizens it serves [3]. He said he would devote his efforts to ensuring that the agency operates with transparency, and accountability, to regain its standing with the public [3].
“"carry out duties with fairness and integrity and respond to the public’s trust"”
The appointment of Matsumoto Hiroshi represents an attempt by the Japanese justice system to stabilize the Tokyo High Prosecutors Office after significant reputational damage. By emphasizing 'fairness and integrity' immediately upon taking office, Matsumoto is signaling a shift toward internal reform to prevent the kind of misconduct that led to recent criminal trials and dismissals within the agency.
