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
Aug
10
2018
CFTC Proposes Rules to Simplify Process for Foreign Clearing Organizations to Obtain DCO Registration Exemptions Katten
Aug
9
2018
EU and Japan Strike Tentative Data Transfer Deal Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Jun
19
2018
US Makes Good on Trade Threats – What Now? Covington & Burling LLP
May
23
2018
2018 – Problem and Promise of Cryptocompliance in Asia Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
May
7
2018
K&L Gates Blockchain Energizer – Volume 27: May 7, 2018 K&L Gates
May
3
2018
It’s Official: Employers in Japan Must Convert Some Fixed-Term Employment Contracts to Indefinite Status Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Apr
27
2018
Japan Will Allow U.S. Corn Ethanol Imports To Reach GHG Reduction Targets Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Apr
19
2018
Japanese Regulatory holds the First Meeting of the New Study Group on Virtual Currency Exchanges K&L Gates
Apr
11
2018
Overtime Work Salary for Annual Salary Scheme Employees K&L Gates
Mar
28
2018
New Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Glycine from China, India, Japan and Thailand Faegre Drinker
Mar
28
2018
What’s Your Number? Be Careful When Asking Your Japanese Employees. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Mar
15
2018
Next Up: Section 301 Companies and Global Markets Should Prepare for the Risk of Rising U.S.-China Trade Tensions Covington & Burling LLP
Feb
15
2018
Do You Really Want to File for Pharma Patent Protection in Canada, India or Ecuador? Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner, P.A.
Feb
12
2018
The Hague System for the Registration of International Design Rights Welcomes Russia Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Feb
7
2018
New/Upcoming CFIUS Filing: Fujifilm Holding Corporation and Xerox Corporation Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Feb
5
2018
Multilateral-APA-Like Program to Create International Tax Certainty for Pilot Participants McDermott Will & Emery
Feb
1
2018
More Plus than Minus: Examining the NHL’s Decision to Skip the Winter Olympics Foley & Lardner LLP
Jan
31
2018
US Tax Reform: Potential Role of the APA Program McDermott Will & Emery
Jan
31
2018
Hacking of digital currency exchange leaves Japanese company footing the bill K&L Gates
Jan
29
2018
Canada Reaches Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement Dickinson Wright PLLC
Jan
24
2018
United States Is First Country to Join APEC Privacy Recognition for Processors Program Faegre Drinker
Jan
19
2018
Japan Proposes To Revise Its Fuel Ethanol Policy Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Jan
4
2018
Multi-Billion Dollar Japanese Tech Conglomerate to Process Salaries in Bitcoin Proskauer Rose LLP
Dec
21
2017
EU May Soon Decide “Adequate” Status for Japan Faegre Drinker
Dec
12
2017
EU/Japan Trade Agreement Preserves GIs Despite U.S. Concerns Keller and Heckman LLP
Dec
11
2017
Death by Overwork in Japan: Cultivating a Healthy Workforce From Across the World Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dec
7
2017
Japan’s Transition to Positive List System for Food-Contact Materials Keller and Heckman LLP
Nov
14
2017
Tokyo 2020 adopts proactive stance on “fake news”: a new reality of running major events Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Nov
8
2017
Renewal of Fixed Term Employment Contracts K&L Gates
Oct
25
2017
The Japanese Layoff that didn’t “Fly” Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Oct
19
2017
Blockchain Energizer – Volume 15 K&L Gates
Oct
6
2017
ALJ Shaw: ITC is a Viable Forum for Enforcement of SEPs Mintz
Sep
22
2017
Upcoming/New CFIUS Filing: Kaneka Corporation and Applied Poleramic Inc. Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Sep
21
2017
Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Publishes Its 2015 Annual Report to Congress Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Sep
12
2017
The Form Labor Agreement that’s Making Headlines in Japan Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Sep
7
2017
Blockchain Energizer - Volume 12: September 7, 2017 K&L Gates
Sep
5
2017
ITC Issues First Exclusion Order on SEPs and Upcoming Opinion Expected To Provide Important Guidance on FRAND and SEPs Mintz
Aug
25
2017
New Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Petitions on Titanium Sponge from Japan and Kazakhstan Faegre Drinker
Aug
18
2017
Japan Finalizes Report on Positive List System for Food-Contact Materials Keller and Heckman LLP
Jul
17
2017
Biosimilar Uptake and Patent Litigation in Japan Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Jul
6
2017
Takata Declares Bankruptcy: What are the Key Next Steps for Suppliers? Foley & Lardner LLP
Jun
30
2017
ASIC extends FinTech cooperation to Asian counterparts K&L Gates
Jun
20
2017
Cryptocurrencies Becoming More Mainstream? K&L Gates
May
20
2017
Japan Poised to Adopt Positive List System for Food-Contact Materials Keller and Heckman LLP
May
16
2017
Patent Grace Period Laws in the IP5 Patent Offices: Some Similarities But Largely Different Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
May
12
2017
No Cybersecurity? No Business, Banks Say K&L Gates
May
4
2017
Fast-Tracking Patent Applications in Asia Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Apr
26
2017
Global Data Protection: Developments in Right to Be Forgotten Covington & Burling LLP
Mar
20
2017
Regulators in United Kingdom and Japan Enter Into Co-Operation Framework K&L Gates
Mar
15
2017
Tensions Heighten on the Korean Peninsula Covington & Burling LLP
 

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