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
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)
Aug
21
2011
“Dashboard” Mark Merely Descriptive of Automotive Information Services McDermott Will & Emery
Jul
14
2011
Evaluating Insurance Policies After Japan’s Earthquake Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Jun
26
2011
Japanese FTC Streamlines Merger Review Process Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
May
18
2011
Antitrust Aspects of Dealing with the Japanese Earthquake McDermott Will & Emery
May
15
2011
Specification Must Sufficiently Describe Claimed Invention to Show Possession of Claimed Subject Matter McDermott Will & Emery
Apr
18
2011
Employment and Labor Law Questions and Answers Related to the Earthquake and Tsunami in Northern Japan Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Apr
17
2011
Robot Reworked to Analyze Radiation in Japan U.S. Department of Energy
Apr
14
2011
The Immigration Implications of Japan’s Disaster Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Apr
11
2011
April 4, 2011 Update on Ongoing Monitoring U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Mar
28
2011
The Rising Cost of Disasters Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
27
2011
Insurance Claims for Supply Chain Aftershocks of the Japanese Earthquake Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
27
2011
U.S. Department of Energy Releases Radiation Monitoring Data from Fukushima Area U.S. Department of Energy
Mar
25
2011
Rebuilding Japan May Cost More Than $300 Billion Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
23
2011
The Psychological Hurdle to Earthquake Preparedness Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
21
2011
Initial Estimates of Claims from Japan Quake Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
18
2011
Reactors at Heart of Japanese Nuclear Crisis Raised Concerns as Early as 1972, Memos Show. Some Watchdogs Fear U.S. Regulators Complacent Then — and Now. Center for Public Integrity
Mar
17
2011
Earthquake, Tsunami Reshape Japan’s Coastline Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
12
2011
How Japan’s Building Codes Prevented Casualties Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Mar
11
2011
Business Interruption in Japan Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Oct
18
2010
China Plays Hardball With Rare Earth Exports Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS)
Nov
30
2009
Japanese Companies Using New Rehabilitation ADR Procedures in Major Restructurings Bingham McCutchen LLP
 

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