Japan

Japan is a sovereign island located in East-Asia. It is often referred to as the “Land of the Rising Sun,” given its name means “sun origin”. The country consists of nearly 6900 smaller islands, with the largest being Hokkaido, Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku, making up approximately 97% of the country’s land area. With a population of nearly 128 million, it is the 10th most populous country in the world, with about 9.1 million living in the country’s capital, Tokyo.

Japan is a member of the UN, G7, G8, and G20, OECD, and is considered a great power in the world. It has the third largest nominal GDP in the world, and fourth largest purchasing power parity (PPP). It is also the world’s fourth largest exporter and importer of goods. A skilled workforce, which are considered among the most educated in the world, the country is a major trade partner and economic driver for other nations around the world.

Japan has the world’s eighth largest military budget worldwide, with primary goals of peacekeeping and self-defense. The country enjoys the highest life expectancy worldwide, and the country is highly regarded for its cinema, cuisine, tourism, and modern-day technology production, among other facets. Nearly 73% of the country’s landmass is forested, mountainous, and isn’t suitable for agriculture, or industrial/residential use. Because of this, the 27% of the country’s hospitable zones, are high density populations.

As a constitutional monarchy, the Emperor has very limited powers in Japan; the constitution defines the Emperor as "the symbol of the State and of the unity of the people". The Chief Prime Minister and cabinet control a majority of the executive authority in the country. The Japanese legal system is highly influenced by Chinese law, but since the 19th century the judicial system has been highly influenced by the civil laws of Europe, most notably that of Germany.

In Japan, the judicial power is vested in the Supreme Court.  Lower courts include the High Court, District Court, Family Courts and Summary Courts.  The judiciary is independent, as guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution, and most judges are basically lifetime employees of the government.

Japan is home to some of the most technologically advanced auto-manufacturers in the world, ships, steel and nonferrous metals, machine tools, processed foods, textiles, and machine tools. Among the leading exports from Japan were auto, electronics, transportation equipment, semiconductor, iron and steel parts. Its leading imports included fossil fuels, chemicals, textiles, raw materials, and machinery/equipment. Tourism is also a major economic driver, with nearly 20 million visiting the country in 2015, and over 24 million tourists visiting in 2016.

The National Law Review covers news stories from Japan, which affect the country, and international markets alike. Pharmaceuticals, healthcare sector, international trade, imports and exports, CFIUS and international purchases/acquisitions, fuel policies, and foreign relations. From international trade, company acquisitions, sales, cybersecurity and cryptocurrency markets, or new legislation between Japan and foreign country’s governments, the National Law Review has up to date news visitors want to read.

Custom text Title Organization
Sep
16
2015
Japan Amends Its Data Privacy Law: “Big Data” Comes With New Regulations Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Sep
15
2015
Improving Patent Quality With International Collaborative Search Pilot Programs Foley & Lardner LLP
Aug
28
2015
Akebia Therapeutics, Inc. v. FibroGen, Inc.: Statute Permits Domestic Discovery for Foreign Opposition Proceedings McDermott Will & Emery
Aug
12
2015
New Antidumping And Countervailing Duty Petitions On Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Seven Countries Faegre Drinker
Aug
7
2015
Expediting Patent Prosecution with New Collaborative Search Pilot Program Mintz
Jul
29
2015
New Antidumping And Countervailing Duty Petitions On Certain Cold-Rolled Steel Flat Products From Eight Countries Faegre Drinker
Jul
7
2015
New International Searching Authority Available for Green Technology Companies Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
May
20
2015
United States and Japan Form Cybersecurity Alliance in Hopes of Building International Norms Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
May
5
2015
Extradition from Japan: The Gamble Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Apr
2
2015
Kanto Local Finance Bureau Requests Questionnaires from Article 63 Filers - Japanese Finance Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Mar
6
2015
Banker Settles with SEC for Role in Olympus Scandal Katten
Mar
6
2015
Post-Grant Oppositions in Japan – Part 1 of a 8 Part Series Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Mar
3
2015
Japanese Court Upholds Penalties for Sexual Harassment Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Feb
27
2015
ESMA and JFSA Conclude a Memorandum of Understanding Regarding CCPs Katten
Feb
23
2015
Prepare for the Japanese Patent Opposition System Coming Soon Mintz
Jan
25
2015
CFTC Grants Order of Registration to Tokyo Commodity Exchange Katten
Dec
16
2014
Energy and Environmental Law Update - Week of December 15, 2014 Mintz
Nov
25
2014
Bridging the Week: November 17 to 21 and 24, 2014 [VIDEO] Katten
Nov
22
2014
European Commission Extends Deadline for the CRR (Capital Requirements Regulation) Katten
Nov
15
2014
Darkhotel Cyber Attacks Are Targeting Traveling Executives Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Nov
11
2014
Steps toward More Harmonized Regulation of Software as a Medical Device: New IMDRF (International Medical Device Regulators Forum) Policy Position Covington & Burling LLP
Nov
2
2014
European Commission Adopts First Equivalence Decisions for Non-EU Central Counterparties (CCPs) Katten
Nov
1
2014
A Cozy Relationship: The DOJ and Japanese Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), and the Potential Risks of Taking Advantage of JFTC’s Leniency Program Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Oct
23
2014
Visa-Free Entry to Philippines for Some Chinese and Indian Nationals Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Oct
21
2014
Japanese Shipping Company Rolls Over, Pleads Guilty to Price Fixing McDermott Will & Emery
Oct
16
2014
Bulletin: Commerce Department Statistics on the First Year of Export Control Reform Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Oct
9
2014
European Patent Office (EPO) – New Guidance On Added Subject Matter Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Oct
3
2014
Africa Legal News Update - October 3, 2014 Mintz
Oct
2
2014
Japan Initiates Simpler Visa Process for Filipino, Indonesian and Vietnamese Nationals Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Sep
22
2014
Myanmar Alert – Securing Visas Upon Arriving in the Country on the Increase Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Sep
20
2014
Department of State (DOS) Announces Some Visa Reciprocity Updates Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Sep
16
2014
The Thorny Problem of Patentable Eligible Subject Matter: Part 10 of a 10-Part Series: Japan Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Sep
15
2014
OTC Derivatives Regulators Issue Report Regarding Cross-Border Issues Katten
Sep
13
2014
Mexichem Amanco Holdings v. Honeywell International, Denying Motion for Additional Discovery IPR2013-00576 Faegre Drinker
Sep
8
2014
Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) Again in the Spotlight: New York Times Examines Foreign Funding and Think Tanks Covington & Burling LLP
 

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