Insights

September 22, 2021

Resolving Labor Disputes in Japan

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Darcy Kishida, and Keitaro Shimomura

This article discusses the three main ways to resolve labor disputes in Japan, including their respective benefits and drawbacks: court-run labor tribunals, standard court litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.

August 3, 2021

Trouble reducing headcount in Japan? Try cutting pay instead.

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Darcy Kishida, and Mutsuki Shibata

This article discusses pay cuts as an alternative to layoffs, which are difficult to implement in strongly pro-labor Japan.

June 30, 2021

Licensors of Well-Known Names or Logos May Be Liable For Damages Under Japan’s Product Liability Act

By Osamu Ishida, Darcy Kishida, and Rena Takamatsu

This article discusses a company’s potential liability under Japan’s Product Liability Act when that company licenses its logo for use on another company’s product that the logo owner did not design, engineer, or manufacture.

May 28, 2021

Tax Issues Arising from M&A in Japan

By Norio Mitsuuchi, Harold Godsoe, and Kohei Honda

This chapter written for Lexology’s Japan M&A Practice Guide focuses on tax issues of importance to M&A dealmakers working with corporations in Japan.

May 25, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions – What Employers in Japan Need to Know About Employee “Stress Check” Requirements

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Darcy Kishida, and Moeko Takeda

This article provides a useful overview of Japan’s Stress Check system in an easy-to-understand question and answer format.

March 31, 2021

Compulsory Requirements for a Company Under Japanese Patent Law for the Payment of Reasonable Profits for Employee Inventions

By Makoto Toyoshima, Harold Godsoe, and Moeko Takeda

A high-level summary of the requirements for companies with creative employees under Japanese Patent Law.

February 17, 2021

An Overview of Civil Litigation in Japan

By Osamu Ishida, Naoki Takahashi, and Harold Godsoe

What to expect when you are considering going to the courts in Japan: when the action starts and ends, how long, how much, and how to appeal and enforce your judgement.

January 8, 2021

Advice from Japan’s Law Against Power Harassment

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Harold Godsoe, and Moeko Takeda

Almost one in three workers have reported workplace bullying or abuse in Japan and, while the government is not cracking down, a new revision to an old law provides helpful advice for employers in this area.

December 18, 2020

International Jurisdiction and Governing Law in Labor Disputes

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Darcy Kishida, and Hiroyoshi Ikeda

Depending on the nature of an employment dispute, there are cases where it’s impossible to avoid the jurisdiction of Japanese courts and the application of Japanese law.

October 13, 2020

Coronavirus-Related Measures Employers In Japan Need To Know

By Hiromasa Ogawa, Darcy Kishida, and Saori Miyanishi

This article provides practical guidance on how employers in COVID-era Japan can balance their legal obligations to their employees with the need to remain profitable and solvent.