Ohara & Furukawa, Author at Ohara & Furukawa

January 1, 2018

What is the most common reason for rejecting a trademark application in Japan?

When applying for a trademark, it is very important to provide an accurate and detailed description of the designated goods or services related to the trademark. The trademark should either be already in use or there should be plans to use it in the future relating to these goods or services. A majority of trademark applications that are denied are rejected for an inadequate description of the goods or services. This specific ground for rejection is especially common for foreign applicants for trademarks and as much as 70% of rejected foreign trademark applications are due to unclear descriptions of the […]

December 29, 2017

Can police in Japan make an arrest without a warrant?

In most cases, the police require a warrant in order to arrest someone. To obtain a warrant the police, or public prosecutor, must present evidence to a judge who then will issue a warrant if convinced that there is probable cause to suspect that the target of the warrant has committed a crime. The lengthy process of obtaining a warrant protects the public from baseless arrests but there are two main exceptions. First, warrants need not be obtained for flagrant offenders who are caught in the commission of a crime or immediately thereafter. Second, in cases of great urgency where […]

December 27, 2017

How are priority creditors treated during bankruptcy in Japan?

When a trustee creates a plan for reorganization of a corporation, he or she does not need to follow the absolute priority rule. Instead, the trustee can create plan that allows the priority and the junior creditor to recoup a portion of their losses, as long as the junior creditor is not repaid on terms that are the same or better than the priority creditor. For example, a plan might call for the priority creditor to receive 90% of his or her debt while the rest of the company’s assets are used to satisfy the debts of the junior creditors.

December 25, 2017

Can a foreign couple marry in Japan?

Foreign couples that live in Japan are allowed to marry in Japan just as any ordinary Japanese citizen would be allowed to. The foreign couple needs to register their marriage at the local government office and both parties will need to submit a certificate of legal capacity to marry along with Japanese translations. Completing these procedures will legally marry the couple under Japanese law.