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
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
Sep
3
2014
Utility Patent Trends Gleaned from the IPO’s 2014 IP Record Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Aug
28
2014
Automotive Bearings Price-Fixing Allegations Survive the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act (FTAIA) Defense McDermott Will & Emery
Aug
27
2014
Energy, Climate Change & Environmental Legislative Update-August 25, 2014 Mintz
Aug
24
2014
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) Publishes Updated List of Non-European Economic Area (EEA) Central Counterparties Applying for Recognition Under European Market Infrastructure Directive (EMIR) Katten
Aug
12
2014
Energy & Environmental Law Update - August 11, 2014 Mintz
Aug
2
2014
An Expensive Reminder to Secure Trademark Rights Prior to Foreign Expansion Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.
Jul
23
2014
Bitcoin – Is Anyone In Charge? Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Jul
15
2014
Commission Publishes White Paper on Minority Shareholdings McDermott Will & Emery
Jun
10
2014
G7 Leaders Tackle Growth, Stability and Tax Bases; Warn Absent Russia Covington & Burling LLP
Mar
11
2014
Energy and Environmental Law Update - March 10, 2014 Mintz
Feb
20
2014
Patent Troll Update: Japan - Re: Patent Infringement Litigation Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Feb
17
2014
Patent Trolls: A Global Perspective Re: Patent Infringement Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Feb
7
2014
Jim Beam Purchased by Japanese Conglomerate McBrayer, McGinnis, Leslie and Kirkland, PLLC
Jan
25
2014
Department of Commerce Expected to Revoke (Again) Antidumping Duty Orders on Ball Bearings from Japan and the UK Faegre Drinker
Jan
7
2014
International Trade Commission Initiates Sunset Review on Ball Bearings from Japan and the United Kingdom Faegre Drinker
Jan
5
2014
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Makes Comparability Determinations for Substituted Compliance Purposes Katten
Jan
4
2014
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Issues No-Action Relief from Certain Swap Data Reporting Requirements Katten
Dec
12
2013
Department of Commerce Reinstates Antidumping Duty Orders on Ball Bearings from Japan and the United Kingdom Faegre Drinker
Oct
15
2013
Takata Corp. Agrees to Pay $71.3 Million Fine for Its Role in Alleged Price-Fixing and Bid-Rigging in the Automotive Parts Industry McDermott Will & Emery
Oct
10
2013
YKK Corporation Files Patent Infringement Action Against Competitor Velcro USA Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Mar
29
2013
Japan’s Entry Into Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Raises Opportunities and Risks for US Companies McDermott Will & Emery
Mar
26
2013
Energy and Environmental Law Update - March 25, 2013 Mintz
Mar
19
2013
Energy and Environmental Law Update - March 18, 2013 Mintz
Mar
5
2013
World Trade Organization Rules Against Ontario’s “Buy Local” Program Varnum LLP
Jan
30
2013
Energy & Environment Law Update - January 30, 2013 Mintz
Jan
11
2013
Survey of Corporate Compliance Programs Yields Tips on Effective Programs ArentFox Schiff LLP
Oct
26
2012
Japan-China Supply Chain Efficiency Valuation and Transfer Pricing McDermott Will & Emery
Oct
23
2012
Energy and Environment Law Update: October 21, 2012 Mintz
Sep
17
2012
Energy and Environment Law Update - September 16, 2012 Mintz
Aug
29
2012
Energy and Environment Update - August 26, 2012 Mintz
Aug
20
2012
Energy and Environment Law Update August 20, 2012 Mintz
Jun
25
2012
Energy and Environmental Law Updates - June 24, 2012 Mintz
May
30
2012
Energy and Environmental Law Update - May 29, 2012 Mintz
Apr
25
2012
Energy and Environment Law and Regulatory Update - April 24, 2012 Mintz
Apr
2
2012
Energy and Environment Law and Regulatory Update - April 2, 2012 Mintz
Mar
18
2012
Updates from Department of State and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Mar
17
2012
Second WTO Challenge of Chinese Export Restrictions Could Affect High-Tech and Green Energy Sectors McDermott Will & Emery
Dec
6
2011
Charting Supply Chain Risk in China – It’s Worse Than in Japan Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Dec
5
2011
Apple and Samsung Wage Patent War Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
 

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