Treaties
| Year | Treaties and agreements (in chronological order) |
| 1855 | Russo-Japanese Treaty of Friendship, signed on February 7, 1855, entered into force on August 7, 1855 |
| 1858 | Treaty between France and Japan, signed on October 9, 1858, entered into force on September 22, 1858 |
| 1875 | Treaty of Exchange of Sakhalin and Kuril Islands, signed on May 7, 1875, entered into force on August 22, 1875 |
| 1905 | Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty (Treaty of Portsmouth), signed on September 5, 1905, entered into force on November 25, 1905 |
| 1905 | Treaty of Portsmouth, signed on September 5, 1905 |
| 1910 | Treaty regarding Annexation of Korea to the Empire of Japan, signed on August 22, 1910, entered into force on August 29, 1910 |
| 1933 | Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, Article 1, signed on Dec. 26, 1933, entered into force on Dec. 26, 1934, 165 LNTS 19 |
| 1941 | Atlantic Charter, released on August 14, 1941 |
| 1943 | Cairo Declaration, released on December 1, 1943 |
| 1945 | Statute of the International Court of Justice, signed on June 26, 1945, entered into force on October 24, 1945 |
| 1945 | Potsdam Declaration, issued on July 26, 1945 |
| 1945 | Yalta Agreement, signed on February 11, 1945 |
| 1946 | International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, signed on December 2, 1946, entered into force on November 10, 1948, 161 unts 72 |
| 1947 | General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1947, signed on October 30, 1947, entered into force on January 1 1948, 55 unts 194 |
| 1948 | Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, adopted on December 9, 1948, entered into force on January 12, 1951, 78 unts 277 |
| 1948 | Universal Declaration of Human Rights, GA Res 217 (III) A, UN Doc A/810 (December 10, 1948) |
| 1949 | Geneva Convention I for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, adopted on August 11, 1949, entered into force on October 21, 1950, 75 unts 31 |
| 1949 | Geneva Convention II for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea, adopted on August 11, 1949, entered into force on October 21, 1950, 75 unts 85 |
| 1949 | Geneva Convention III Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, adopted on August 11, 1949, entered into force on October 21, 1950, 75 unts 135 |
| 1949 | Geneva Convention IV Relative to the Protection of Civilian Population in Time of War, adopted on August 11, 1949, entered into force on October 21, 1950, 75 unts 287 |
| 1951 | Convention relating to the Status of Refugee, adopted on July 28, 1951, entered into force on April 22, 1954, 189 unts 137 |
| 1951 | Treaty of Peace with Japan, signed on September 8, 1951, entered into force on April 28, 1952, 136 unts 45 |
| 1954 | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil, signed on May 12, 1954, entered into force on July 26, 1958, 327 unts 3 |
| 1956 | Joint Declaration of the Soviet Union and Japan, signed on October 19, 1956 |
| 1960 | Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, signed on January 19, 1960, entered into force on July 23, 1960, 11 UST 1632 |
| 1965 | Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Korea on Fisheries, signed on 22 June 1965, 583 unts 51 |
| 1965 | Agreement on the Settlement of Problems concerning Property and Claims and on Economic Cooperation, signed on June 22, 1965, entered into force on December 18, 1965, 583 unts 173 |
| 1966 | International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, signed on March 7, 1966, entered into force on March 12, 1969, 660 unts 195 |
| 1966 | International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, signed on December 16, 1966, entered into force on March 23, 1976, 999 unts 171 |
| 1966 | International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, signed on December 16, 1966, entered into force on January 3, 1976, 993 unts 3 |
| 1967 | Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, signed on January 31, 1967, entered into force on October 4, 1967, 606 unts 267 |
| 1969 | International Convention relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, signed on November 29, 1969, entered into force on May 6, 1975, 970 unts 211 |
| 1969 | Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, signed on May 23, 1969, entered into force on January 27, 1980, 1155 unts 331 |
| 1971 | Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, signed on February 2, 1971, entered into force on December 21, 1975, 996 unts 245 |
| 1972 | Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, signed on November 16, 1972, entered into force on December 17, 1975, 1037 unts 151 |
| 1972 | Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, signed on December 29, 1972, entered into force on August 30, 1975, 1046 unts 120 |
| 1973 | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, signed on March 3, 1973, entered into force on July 1, 1975, 993 unts 243 |
| 1973 | Protocol relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Pollution by Substances other than Oil, adopted on November 2, 1973, entered into force on March 30, 1983, 1313 unts 3 |
| 1974 | Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Korea concerning establishing a boundary in the northern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries, signed on January 30, 1974, entered into force on June 22, 1978, 1225 unts 103 |
| 1974 | Agreement concerning joint development of the southern part of the continental shelf adjacent to the two countries, signed on January 30, 1974, entered into force on June 22, 1978, 1225 unts 113 |
| 1977 | Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Relating to the Protection of Victims in International Armed Conflict, adopted on June 8, 1977, entered into force on December 7, 1978, 1125 unts 3 |
| 1977 | Protocol II Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and Relating to the Protection of Victims in Non-International Armed Conflicts, adopted on June 8, 1977, entered into force on December 7, 1978, 1125 unts 609 |
| 1978 | International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships of 1973 as modified by the Protocol of 1978, signed on November 2, 1973, not in force, 12 ilm 1319; the Protocol, signed on February 17, 1978, entered into force on October 2, 1983, 1340 unts 61 |
| 1978 | Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and the People’s Republic of China, signed on August 12, 1978, entered into force on October 23, 1978, 1225 unts 257 |
| 1979 | Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, signed on June 23, 1979, entered into force on November 1, 1983, 1651 UNTS 333 |
| 1979 | Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, signed on December 18, 1979, entered into force on September 3, 1981, 1249 unts 13 |
| 1979 | International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages, adopted on December 17, 1979, entered into force on June 3, 1983, 1316 unts 205 |
| 1982 | United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, adopted on April 30, 1982, entered into force on November 16, 1994, 1833 unts 3 |
| 1983 | Gaborone Amendment to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, adopted on April 30, 1983, entered into force on November 29, 2013, 2993 unts 85 |
| 1984 | Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted on December 10, 1984, entered into force on June 26, 1987, 1465 unts 85 |
| 1987 | Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, signed on September 16, 1987, entered into force on January 1, 1989, 1522 unts 3 |
| 1988 | United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, adopted on December 20, 1988, entered into force on November 11, 1990, 1582 unts 95 |
| 1989 | Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, signed on March 22, 1989, entered into force on May 5, 1992, 1673 unts 57 |
| 1989 | Convention on the Rights of the Child, signed on November 20, 1989, entered into force on September 2, 1990, 1577 unts 3 |
| 1991 | Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, signed on February 25, 1991, entered into force on September 10, 1997, 1989 unts 309 |
| 1992 | Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted on June 5, 1992, entered into force on December 29, 1993, 1760 unts 79 |
| 1992 | United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted on May 9, 1992, entered into force on March 24, 1994, 1771 unts 107 |
| 1994 | Agreement on Agriculture, adopted on April 15, 1994, entered into force on January 1, 1995, 1867 unts 410 |
| 1994 | Agreement on Implementation of Article VI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade 1994, adopted on April 15, 1994, entered into force on January 1, 1995, 1868 unts 201 |
| 1994 | Agreement on Safeguards, adopted on April 15, 1994, entered into force on January 1, 1995, 1869 unts 154 |
| 1994 | Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, adopted on April 15, 1994, entered into force on January 1, 1995, 1869 unts 14 |
| 1994 | Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes, adopted on April 15, 1994, entered into force on January 1, 1995, 1869 unts 401 |
| 1994 | United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, signed on June 17, 1994, entered into force on December 26, 1996, 1954 unts 3 |
| 1995 | Ban Amendment to the Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, adopted on September 22, 1995, entered into force on December 5, 2019, UNTS A-28911 |
| 1996 | London Protocol, signed on November 7, 1996, entered into force on March 24, 2006 |
| 1997 | Agreement between Japan and the People’s Republic of China concerning Fisheries, signed on November 11, 1997, entered into force on June 1, 2000, 2731 unts 181 |
| 1997 | Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses, adopted on May 21, 1997, entered into force on August 17, 2014, 2999 unts 77 |
| 1997 | International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings, adopted on December 15, 1997, entered into force on May 23, 2001, 2149 unts 256 |
| 1997 | Kyoto Protocol, signed on December 11, 1997, entered into force on February 16, 2005, 2303 unts 162 |
| 1998 | Agreement between Japan and the Republic of Korea concerning Fisheries, signed on November 28, 1998, entered into force on January 22, 1999, 2731 unts 305 |
| 1998 | Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters, signed on June 25, 1998, entered into force on October 30, 2001, 2161 unts 447 |
| 1998 | Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, signed on July 17, 1998, entered into force on July 1, 2002, 2187 unts 3 |
| 1998 | Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, signed on September 11, 1998, entered into force on February 24, 2004, 2244 unts 337 |
| 1999 | Protocol on Liability and Compensation for Damage Resulting from Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, adopted on December 10, 1999, not yet in force, Doc. UNEP/CHW.5/29, Annex III |
| 2000 | Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, signed on January 29, 2000, entered into force on September 11, 2003, 2226 unts 208 |
| 2000 | Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, adopted on November 15, 2000, entered into force on January 28, 2004, 2241 unts 507 |
| 2000 | Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, adopted on November 15, 2000, entered into force on 25 December 2003, 2237 unts 319 |
| 2000 | Protocol to the OPRC Convention on Preparedness, Response and Co-operation to pollution Incidents by Hazardous and Noxious Substances, adopted on March 15, 2000, entered into force on June 14, 2007, unts I-56797 |
| 2000 | United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, adopted on November 15, 2000, entered into force on September 29, 2003, 2225 unts 209 |
| 2001 | Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, signed on May 22, 2001, entered into force on May 17, 2004, 2256 unts 119 |
| 2001 | International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, adopted on October 5, 2001, entered into force on September 17, 2008, unts I-56215 |
| 2001 | Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts and Components and Ammunition, signed on July 11, 2001, entered into force on July 3, 2005, 2326 unts 208 |
| 2004 | International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, adopted on February 13, 2004, entered into force on September 8, 2017, unts I-55544 |
| 2006 | International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, adopted on December 20, 2006, entered into force on December 23, 2010, 2716 unts 3 |
| 2007 | United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, UNGA Res 61/295 (September 13, 2007) |
| 2009 | Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, adopted on May 15, 2009, entered into force on June 26, 2025 |
| 2009 | Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing, adopted on Nov. 11, 2009 and entered into force on June 5, 2016, 3161 unts 377 |
| 2010 | Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed on October 29, 2010, entered into force on October 12, 2014, 3008 unts 3 |
| 2010 | Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, signed on October 15, 2010, entered into force on March 5, 2018, 3239 unts A-30619 |
| 2013 | Minamata Convention on Mercury, signed on October 10, 2013, entered into force on August 16, 2017, 3201 unts 3 |
| 2015 | Paris Agreement, signed on December 12, 2015, entered into force on November 4, 2016, 3156 unts 79 |