Digital Commons Network^™

Civil Procedure Reform In Japan, Takeshi Kojima

Michigan Journal of International Law

Delay in court has been a problem common in all eras, both ancient and modern, and to all systems of law, Western and Eastern alike. In Japan, however, the problem is arguably more acute. The average delay between filing and judgment for cases that require at least a minimum level of proof-taking or an evidentiary hearing is 27 months. This deplorable reality has recently led to renewed efforts to tackle the problem of delay in Japan. Two groups that have been particularly important in this effort are two local bar associations and the Tokyo and Osaka district courts. The First …

Comparison: Japanese And American Plant Closing Laws, Allison Zousmer

Michigan Journal of International Law

This Note analyzes the American and Japanese approaches to plant closings and discusses to what extent the American government can apply the successful Japanese approach to its own labor relations system. The first part examines the specific provisions of the two nations' laws. Second, it illustrates how the divergent social rules and historical backgrounds influence the operation of the plant closing laws in both nations. Part three explores the impact and applicability of Japanese labor policies to American industrial practices. The Note concludes that although the Japanese provide a general model for a labor management system which combines cooperation and …

Japan's High Technology Industries: Lessons And Limitations Of Industrial Policy, Steven R. Englund

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Japan's High Technology Industries: Lessons and Limitations of Industrial Policy edited by Hugh Patrick

The Regulation Of Insider Trading In The United States, United Kingdom, And Japan, Barbara Ann Banoff

Michigan Journal of International Law

Part I of this article will briefly discuss the American laws regulating insider trading; Part II will discuss the law of the United Kingdom; and Part III will discuss the regulation-or, more accurately, the non-regulation-of insider trading in Japan.

Comparison Of Japanese And American Bankruptcy Law, Brooke Schumm Iii

Michigan Journal of International Law

The outline and direction of this article are arranged approximately in the order of provisions under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The article focuses on Japanese reorganization proceedings, but necessarily discusses Japanese bankruptcy provisions at length. First, eligibility and types of proceedings are discussed. Second, commencement details and administrative provisions, including the "automatic stay" and assumption and rejection of leases and contracts are presented. Third, the debtor's duties and the handling of claims are reviewed. Fourth, liquidations are compared. Fifth, confirmation and reorganization are explored in detail. Last, a comparison of bankruptcy provisions for individuals concludes the article.

Performer's Rights And Digital Sampling Under U.S. And Japanese Law, Jessica D. Litman

Articles

A year or two ago, one of my copyright students called to my attention a problem that seemed to him to pose unique difficulties for the copyright statute. The problem arises because of a technology called digital sampling.' Digital sampling is a new threat to performers' rights that has grown out of the combination of digital recording technology with music synthesizer technology. This threat is a very recent one. Indeed, the digital sampling problem is so new that copyright lawyers haven't yet figured out how to think about it.

The Limitations On The Protection Of Program Works Under Japanese Copyright Law, Dennis S. Karjala

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article examines these problems in the light of the program language, rule, and algorithm limitations on program protection under the Japanese Copyright Act. Section II sets forth the relevant statutory language, and Sections III and IV apply the program language and rule limitations to operating systems software and microcode. Section V considers the scope of protection under Japanese law in applications programs under the algorithm limitation on program protection. Finally, Section VI takes up the problem of whether copying for purposes of reverse engineering can be justified under the Act.

Computer Technology And Copyright- A Review Of Legislative And Judicial Developments In Japan, Teruo Doi

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article discusses and evaluates the legislative and judicial developments after the enactment of the Copyright Law which apply to computer programs and other computer-related technology. It examines: (1) the 1985 amendment to the Copyright Law enacted to protect computer programs, including the history of discussions by government agencies and judicial determinations that led to the amendment; (2) the 1986 Program Registration Law which supplements the existing provisions of the Copyright Law concerning registration; (3) the protection of databases under a new amendment to the Copyright Law; (4) the regulation of software rental business by the establishment of a public …

Japanese-Style Worker Participation And United States Labor Law, William S. Rutchow

Michigan Journal of International Law

This note will evaluate the current legal status of Japanese-style worker participation programs under the NLRA. First, it analyzes relevant sections of the NLRA and their interpretation by the Board and the courts. Second, the note describes various types of Japanese worker participation programs, and suggests how these programs can be legally implemented under current American labor law. Third, the note considers standards the Supreme Court may adopt to test the legality of worker participation programs in the future. Finally, this note recommends that the Supreme Court uphold those participation programs which are freely chosen by employees.

Remade In Japan, Jennifer Friesen

Michigan Law Review

A Review of Japan's Reshaping of American Labor Law by William B. Gould

Review Of The Justice Of The Western Consular Courts In Nineteenth Century Japan, Whitmore Gray

Reviews

Richard Chang attacks the generalization accepted by many historians that the Western consular tribunals in nineteenth-century Japan were so partial- toward West- erners and against Japanese-that they seldom rendered evenhanded justice. His study required two steps. First he tried to determine how many "mixed" cases came to trial-cases in which aJapanese brought a claim against a foreign resident in a consular court or was the complaining party in criminal proceedings against a foreigner. Between 1875 and 1895 there were five such cases that were widely reported and commented on at the time, and that have often been cited as examples. …

Whither The Future Of Japanese Industrial Development Policies?, Merit E. Janow

Michigan Journal of International Law

This article describes past and present Japanese industrial policies. After discussing the evolution of Japanese industrial policies generally, it addresses the specific instruments of those policies including those intended to assist declining industries as well as those intended to promote the development of new industries. Finally, this article suggests that government guidance of Japan's industrial sector has decreased and is likely to decrease further still in the future.

The Role Of The Federal Government In Worker Adjustment Assistance, Linda Elliott

Michigan Journal of International Law

Part I of this note examines worker adjustment assistance in the United States. It traces TAA's evolution from its inception as a means of compensating trade-displaced workers while minimizing government intervention in the market adjustment process, through its amendment to reflect congressional concern over the low number of worker certifications, to the criticism of its procedures arising out of more recent congressional interest in government-sponsored retraining as a means of attaining worker adjustment. After arguing that current certification and distribution procedures continue to reflect the original goal of the program- compensation with minimal intervention in the market- the note examines …

Use And Non-Use Of Contract Law In Japan, Whitmore Gray

Articles

This article first defines the scope of enquiry, then surveys some of the existing literature, and finally, presents the results of my preliminary survey interviews and questionnaire. It is my hope that it will serve as a basis form discussion leading to better definition of the problems for research in this area, and will suggest ways to proceed to gather the information necessary for more sophisticated exposition and commentary.

Litigation Abuse And The Law Schools, John W. Reed

Articles

At the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference in July, 1983, one session was devoted to a discussion of "Excessive Discovery: A Symptom of Litigation Abuse." (Without knowing, I would guess that a similar title appeared on just about every judicial conference program this year-and last year, and the one before that.) Frank Rothman, President of MGM/United Artists, addressed the subject from the point of view of a corporate client, and his remarks are printed in this issue, beginning at page 342. Judges and trial lawyers expressed their views. And I was asked to comment on the extent to which the law …

Current Studies In Japanese Law, Whitmore Gray, Kazuo Sugeno, Walter L. Ames, Ronald G. Brown, Richard O. Briggs

Books

Over the past fifteen years there has been a remarkable growth in the study of Japanese law in the United States. The foundation was laid during the late 1950's when the Harvard-Michigan-Stanford program brought together Japanese legal specialists and their American counterparts for study and research. At the end of this program a major conference was held, and the resulting publication, Law in Japan, continues to serve as a point of departure in descriptive studies of Japanese law.

During the 1960's interest in Japan continued to develop among law faculty members, but an even more important development was the increase …

Antidumping Law In Japan, Gary Saxonhouse

Michigan Journal of International Law

The Japanese antidumping law neither works nor is it practiced. Until very recently, it has been a case of managed economy, with extensive government-business interaction obviating the need to use antidumping laws. While some legislation has been on the books, there's never been an action filed under the available legal framework for antidumping actions.

Foreward, Whitmore Gray

Other Publications

Over the past fifteen years there has been a remarkable growth in the study of Japanese law in the United States. The foundation was laid during the late 1950's when the Harvard-Michigan-Stanford program brought together Japanese legal specialists and their American counterparts for study and research. At the end of this program a major conference was held, and the resulting publication, Law ~ Japan, continues to serve as a point of departure in descriptive studies of Japanese law.

Enforcement Of A Promise In Modern American Law (Gendai Amerikaho Ni Okeru Yakusoku No Kyosei), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970.

The sixth and final installment describes the history of contractual enforcement in the U.S. and highlights changes introduced through adoption of the UCC.

Contract Interpretation Under The Uniform Commercial Code (Ucc Ni Okeru Keiyaku No Kaishaku), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970.

The fourth installment discusses further considerations and principles that impact contract interpretation.

Contract Formation Under The Uniform Commercial Code (Ucc Ni Okeru Keiyaku No Seiritsu), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970.

The second installment discusses issues related to requirements compelling completion of a contract or pushing the issue to court.

The Role Of The Uniform Commercial Code In American Law (Beikokuho Ni Okeru Ucc No Ichi), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970.

The first installment provides a basic introduction to the UCC and its implementation into the U.S. legal system.

Remedies For Breach Under The Uniform Commercial Code (Ucc Ni Okeru Keiyaku Furiko Ni Taisuru Kyusai), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970. The fifth installment discusses the difficulty of remedies and various methods of enforcement.

Contract Interpretation And The Uniform Commercial Code (Ucc Ni Okeru Keiyaku No Kaishaku), Whitmore Gray

Articles

A series of seminar lectures given by Whitmore Gray in Tokyo, Japan during October 1968. Six articles were subsequently published in “Kaigai Shojihomu” (The International Business Law Bulletin) between July 1969 and May 1970. The third installment introduces the basic principles of contract interpretation.

Constitution Of The Empire Of Japan, George A. Malcolm

Michigan Law Review

In the history of the Japanese people, five dates stand out above all others. They are 66o B. 'C., when, according to legendary account, the Empire of Japan was founded .by the Emperor Jinmu; 1853, when Commodore Perry, with an American squadron, anchored offside what is now Yokohama and caused the opening of Japan to foreign intercourse; 1867-1868, when there was a restoration'of the monarchy, marking the beginning of the Meiji Era of Constitutionalism; and 1889, when the Constitution of Japan was promulgated.