Masaharu Kato

A legal scholar. His given name was Shoji. Born in Nagano Prefecture on March 10, 1874. Graduated from the Faculty of Law of Tokyo Imperial University in 1897 (Meiji 30), and became a professor there in 1903 (Meiji 36). After retiring from the university in 1931 (Showa 6), he served as president of Chuo University, president of the Japanese Association of Civil Procedure Law, and president of the Japanese Association of Maritime Law. He was a professor emeritus at Tokyo Imperial University and a member of the Imperial Academy. During his tenure at Tokyo Imperial University, he taught courses on civil law, civil procedure law, bankruptcy law, and other subjects. His specialty was civil procedure law and bankruptcy law. As a member of the government's legal investigation committee and Legislative Council, he participated in legislative work on the Commercial Code, Civil Procedure Law, Bankruptcy Law, and Composition Law, and played a central role in the enactment and legal reform of the Civil Procedure Law, Bankruptcy Law, and Composition Law. In 1947 (Showa 22), he became an advisor to the Privy Council under the old constitution, and participated in deliberations on the Constitution of Japan and other issues. Academically, he was a pioneer in the study of bankruptcy law. He passed away on March 16, 1952. His major works include 11 volumes of "Bankruptcy Law Research," "Bankruptcy Law Essentials," "Combined Law Essentials," "Civil Procedure Law Essentials," and "Compulsory Execution Law Essentials."

[Yoshinobu Homma]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

法学者。名は「しょうじ」ともよばれる。明治4年3月10日長野県に生まれる。1897年（明治30）東京帝国大学法科大学卒業、1903年（明治36）同大学教授。31年（昭和6）定年退官後は中央大学総長、民事訴訟法学会会長、海法学会会長などを歴任した。東京帝国大学名誉教授、帝国学士院会員。東京帝国大学在職中は、民法、民事訴訟法、破産法などの講座を担当した。専門は民事訴訟法、破産法。政府の法律取調委員、法制審議会委員などとして、商法、民事訴訟法、破産法、和議法などの立法事業に参画し、とくに民事訴訟法、破産法、和議法の立法、法改正には中心的役割を果たした。47年（昭和22）には旧憲法下の枢密院の顧問官となり、日本国憲法などの審議に参与した。学問的にはとくに破産法研究の開拓者である。昭和27年3月16日に没。主要著書として『破産法研究』11巻、『破産法要論』『和議法要論』『民事訴訟法要論』『強制執行法要論』などがある。

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