Ranking of “Compensation” of Outside Directors from Government Offices and the Bank of Japan #13

Prosecutors’ Office: A Special Organ of the Ministry of Justice

The Public Prosecutor’s Office is a special organ of the Ministry of Justice. Prosecutors who have passed the bar exam rank higher than administrative officers who are career bureaucrats, and the Prosecutor General is ranked higher than the Vice-Minister of Justice.

Former Prosecutors as Outside Directors

Many public prosecutors become lawyers after retiring, and 85 alumni are serving as outside directors of listed companies. In this special feature, we reveal the ranking of former prosecutors. Thirty-two people received executive compensation exceeding 10 million yen. First place went to 32.5 million yen.

Lawyers, Judges, and Prosecutors: The Liberal Arts Elite

Lawyers, judges, and prosecutors, who must pass the bar exam to become professionals, reign at the top of the liberal arts elite. By the way, the Public Prosecutor’s Office is a special organ of the Ministry of Justice, but prosecutors rank higher than administrative officers who are career bureaucrats. And the Prosecutor General, who is the head of the prosecution, ranks higher than the administrative vice minister of the Ministry of Justice.

New Prosecutor-General Naomi Unemoto

Naomi Unemoto was appointed as the new prosecutor-general in July this year. She is the 33rd prosecutor-general since the end of the war and the first female. At her inauguration press conference, Unemoto emphasized, “I will bear in mind that the prosecutors’ office is supported by the trust of the people, and I will strive to exercise prosecutorial powers appropriately.”

Former Prosecutors as Outside Directors: A Look at the Numbers

There were 85 people who served as outside directors. When compared to the number of outside directors from other central government ministries, this was less than the Ministry of Finance (101 people), which is called the “government agency within the government agency,” but it was more than the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (75 people), which is responsible for the promotion of domestic industry.

Former Prosecutors as Lawyers

The fact that there are so many former prosecutors among external directors shows that so-called “former prosecutors who have become lawyers” are relied upon by companies as bodyguards. Of the 85, 84 people were active as lawyers after leaving the prosecutor position.

Hiromu Kurokawa: A Notable Exception

The only outside director whose attorney registration could not be confirmed was Hiromu Kurokawa (67), former chief prosecutor of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office. He was considered close to the Abe Shinzo administration, and criticism arose that the government’s cabinet decision in 2020 to extend the retirement age for prosecutors was intended to allow Kurokawa to become chief prosecutor.

Compensation of Former Prosecutors as Outside Directors

The editorial department of Diamond independently calculated the total compensation received by external directors who are former prosecutors. There were 32 people with executive compensation of over 10 million yen, with the top earner being a former female prosecutor who received 32.5 million yen.

Check the Rankings and Compensation

By looking at the rankings, such as the company name, number of concurrent positions, and total estimated compensation, you can check whether the work performance as an outside director is commensurate with the treatment. You can also check the compensation amount of Mr. Kurokawa, which has become a problem.

Major Positions Held During Their Time as Civil Servants

The “major positions held during their time as civil servants,” such as the Prosecutor General, the Superintendent of the Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office, and the Chief Prosecutor of the Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office, are strongly related to the amount of compensation, making this a must-read.