For any foreign business operating in Japan, interacting with government agencies is a certainty. These interactions can range from routine notifications and inspections to formal permit applications and, in some cases, sanctions. Navigating this landscape can be challenging, not only due to language and cultural differences but also because Japanese

When a business in Japan receives an unfavorable administrative decision—a permit is denied, a sanction is imposed, a tax is assessed—it is not the end of the road. Japan’s legal system provides two distinct and primary pathways for recourse: an administrative appeal, which seeks review within the

Large-scale urban redevelopment projects in Japan are formidable undertakings. They can reshape entire neighborhoods, combining municipal-level planning like land readjustment with national-level infrastructure works like the construction of massive river embankments. These projects, which can take decades from conception to completion, unfold in distinct legal stages, each with its own

Like all sovereign nations, Japan possesses the authority to control its borders and remove foreign nationals who have violated its immigration laws. The process is governed by the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Nyūkan-hō), which grants significant power to the Minister of Justice and the Immigration Services Agency. However,

Acquiring real estate in Japan can be a complex process, but the acquisition of farmland (農地, nōchi) exists in a category of its own. Governed by the strict Agricultural Land Act (農地法, Nōchi-hō), the law is designed to preserve domestic food production and ensure that land is owned by those

In Japan, administrative agencies often use a mechanism known as a "public notice" (公示, kōji) to communicate regulations. While some notices are purely informational, others establish legally binding rules that can profoundly impact an entire industry within a specific region. For a business, this can create a difficult

Japan's national and local Information Disclosure Acts grant the public a broad right to access government-held documents, promoting transparency and accountability. For businesses, however, this creates a significant challenge: what happens when a citizen files a request for government records that contain your company's sensitive financial

Vaccination programs are a cornerstone of modern public health, protecting societies from infectious diseases. Yet, in rare instances, these same life-saving measures can lead to severe adverse health effects. This reality presents a profound legal and ethical challenge for any nation: When an individual suffers a serious injury from a

For any business operating in Japan, the timely payment of taxes is a fundamental responsibility. But what happens when the government itself makes a mistake? Imagine discovering that your company has been paying property taxes for decades on a parcel of land that, due to a mapping error in the

Across Japan, a vast number of public facilities—parks, community halls, libraries, and sports arenas—are operated not by government employees but by private companies under the Designated Manager System (指定管理者制度, shitei kanrisha seido). This form of public-private partnership raises a critical question for both the public and the businesses

Government agencies in Japan are vested with powerful regulatory authority to ensure public safety, from enforcing building codes to overseeing environmental standards. But with great power comes great responsibility. What happens when a regulator is aware of a ticking time bomb—a dangerously unstable construction site, for example—but fails

For any business operating in a regulated industry in Japan, a government-issued permit or license is often its most valuable asset. The sudden revocation of that permit can be an existential threat, capable of shutting down operations overnight. When faced with such a drastic measure, it is crucial for a

In Japan, addressing large-scale public needs like waste management, water treatment, or regional transportation often requires multiple municipalities to work together. These joint projects can span years, even decades, involving complex negotiations, shared funding, and the creation of special inter-governmental councils. But what happens when, after years of collaboration and

In Japan's regulatory environment, formal sanctions like fines or license revocations are often the last resort in an escalating series of enforcement actions. Regulators frequently begin with non-binding "administrative guidance" (行政指導, gyōsei shidō) and then move to a more formal "recommendation" (勧告, kankoku). While

Developing land for uses that are necessary but often unpopular with local communities—such as cemeteries, waste treatment plants, or industrial facilities—is a significant challenge in any country. In Japan, these projects often ignite complex, multi-party legal disputes that pit the project applicant against both the government regulator and

For any business involved in real estate development or facility construction in Japan, navigating the permit process is a critical step. Securing a building permit from the local government often feels like the final hurdle before a project can commence. But what happens when, permit in hand, you are suddenly

In any competitive market, the entry of a new rival can impact the revenue and stability of existing businesses. This is a normal feature of a free economy. However, in regulated industries in Japan, where the government controls market entry through a system of permits and licenses, a crucial legal

Japan’s social security and government benefit systems are often intricate webs of statutory entitlements, supplementary benefits based on organizational rules, and discretionary payments. For individuals and entities interacting with these systems, this complexity can create significant legal uncertainty. What is the precise legal nature of a decision to grant

As Japanese local governments increasingly turn to public-private partnerships (PPPs) to deliver essential services, opportunities for private companies to manage and operate public facilities are on the rise. Municipalities now regularly solicit bids from private entities to run everything from nursing homes and childcare centers to libraries and sports arenas.

Disciplinary action against employees is a complex issue in any jurisdiction. In Japan, when the employer is a government entity, a specific legal framework rooted in public service law governs the process. The most severe sanction, a disciplinary dismissal (懲戒免職, chōkai menshoku), effectively ends a public employee's career

Across Japan, many "public facilities" (公の施設, ōyake no shisetsu) such as concert halls, community centers, parks, and museums are no longer directly operated by local governments. Instead, they are managed by private entities—including for-profit corporations—under a framework known as the Designated Manager System (指定管理者制度, shitei kanrisha

In Japan's intricate regulatory landscape, understanding the distinction between a "permit" (許可, kyoka) and a "notification" (届出, todokede) is paramount for any business. While a permit involves a substantive review and discretionary approval from an administrative body, a notification is often a simpler procedural

In liquid public markets, the value of an asset like a stock is determined by its last traded price—a clear, objective, and continuously updated data point. Real estate, however, operates differently. As a private, heterogeneous, and infrequently traded asset class, it lacks a live ticker price. To solve this

The Japanese real estate market has long been defined by its deep, liquid markets for traditional assets like office buildings and residential apartments. For decades, these sectors have been the bedrock of institutional portfolios. However, as the market matures and investors seek higher yields and diversification, a dynamic and increasingly

In the world of institutional real estate, not all investments are created equal. The risk and return profile of a fund is determined by its underlying strategy, which dictates the types of assets it targets, its reliance on leverage, and the primary source of its returns. In the Japanese private