The Tokyo Bar Association ("Toben") is the largest local bar association among the 52 local bar associations in Japan, which, together with the attorneys belonging to all those local bar associations, constitute The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (the JFBA or "Nichibenren"). Toben, established in 1893, is also the oldest bar association in Japan. In 1949, Toben was reincorporated, in its present form, as a juridical person pursuant to the Attorneys Law (Law No. 205 of 1949).

Toben's membership comprises attorneys (bengoshi), legal profession corporations (bengoshi hojin) and foreign special members practicing in metropolitan Tokyo. As of March 1, 2009, Toben's membership comprised 5,818 attorneys (4,854 men and 964 women), 66 legal profession corporations and 42 foreign special members (foreign law attorneys or gaikokuho jimu bengoshi, who are specially admitted to practice foreign law).

As a statutory compulsory membership organization, Toben is responsible for the licensing and discipline of attorneys. Toben is also engaged in various social and professional activities, including the protection of human rights, legislative comment and recommendations, reformation of the judicial system and the provision of professional services to citizens. As a collegial professional organization, it also provides education and training to attorneys and legal trainees. Toben is independent and autonomous. Its activities are free from supervision or influence by any governmental agencies or the judiciary. In furtherance of such independence, Toben is financed principally by membership dues from attorney members and, to some extent, public and private contributions. Toben is located at 1-3, Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, where it is housed in the Bar Associations Building or "Bengoshi Kaikan".

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