Legal Update - Japan Compliance

Japan Compliance

Legal Update

A collection of 7 posts

Slide outlining Japan’s civil-procedure “digital shift”: mandatory e-filing, remote hearings, electronic records, phased rollout to FY2025, and impacts on global businesses.

Civil Procedure

Navigating the Digital Shift: Key Changes to Japan's Code of Civil Procedure for International Businesses

TL;DR Japan’s 2022 civil-procedure amendments launch a sweeping “digital shift”: mandatory e-filing for lawyers, remote hearings via web conference, and full electronic case records. Phased through FY2025, the reforms promise faster, more accessible litigation but demand new tech readiness and data-security measures from international businesses. Table of Contents

Slide summarising Japan’s 2024-25 legal updates: overtime caps, freelance law, AI copyright, Civil Code non-conformity, corporate governance reforms

Japan’s Fast-Changing Business Laws: Labor, IP, Contracts & Governance Explained (2025)

TL;DR Japan has overhauled core business laws—from 2024 overtime caps and the new Freelance Protection Act to AI-era IP rules, contract “non-conformity” remedies, and tougher corporate-governance expectations. International companies must adapt HR policies, IP strategies, contract drafting, and board practices now to stay compliant and competitive. Table of

One-slide summary of Japan’s single-color trademark rules and Louboutin red-sole case outcome

Intellectual Property Law

Single-Color Trademarks in Japan: Insights from the Louboutin Red-Sole Decision

TL;DR * Japan sets a very high bar for single-color trademarks. * Louboutin’s red-sole claims failed under both the Trademark Act (no acquired distinctiveness) and the Unfair Competition Prevention Act (no confusion / not “famous”). * Courts weighed market context (price, channels, other branding) over hue similarity. * To protect a color in

One-slide summary of Japan’s post-parental-leave rights, 2023 Tokyo High Court ruling, and compliance steps for employers

Labor & Employment Law

Post-Parental Leave in Japan: Avoiding Discrimination and Protecting Return-to-Work Rights

TL;DR * Japan’s EEOL and CFCLA prohibit any disadvantageous treatment of employees who take parental leave. * The Tokyo High Court (27 Apr 2023) ruled that placing a returning manager into an individual-contributor role—even with the same pay grade—was illegal discrimination. * Equivalency is judged by duties, authority, and

Slide outlining AI’s impact on Japanese legal practice: legal-tech use cases, key risks (copyright, bias, confidentiality), JFBA ethical duties and Japan’s soft-law AI governance.

The AI Revolution in Japanese Legal Practice: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Considerations

TL;DR * Generative-AI tools are fast entering Japanese law firms for contract review, research and drafting, but raise copyright, bias and confidentiality risks. * The Japan Federation of Bar Associations stresses competence, client-confidentiality and supervision duties when lawyers use AI. * Japan’s “soft-law” AI Guidelines favour innovation, yet rapid model evolution

One-slide overview: Japan’s civil-litigation digitalization—e-filing, e-service, online case records, and business implications

Civil Procedure

Digitalizing Japan’s Civil Litigation: E-Filing, E-Service & Business Impact

TL;DR: Japan’s civil-procedure overhaul mandates e-filing for lawyers, introduces system-based e-service, and gives parties online access to case files. Businesses must upgrade IT workflows, evidence management, and litigation strategy before full rollout by 2026. Table of Contents 1. The Foundation: Mandatory E-Filing for Legal Professionals 2. Transforming Service

Infographic summarising the 2014 Supreme Court ruling that foreign residents lack statutory welfare rights under Japan’s Public Assistance Act.

No Statutory Welfare Right for Foreign Residents: Japan Supreme Court Public Assistance Ruling (2014)

Japan's Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that foreign residents have no Public Assistance Act welfare right; aid depends on administrative discretion.