Ohara & Furukawa

August 16, 2017

If a third party starts sharing an apartment with the renter, does this count as subleasing?

The rule against subleasing extends to situations where friends or family move in with the renter.  Having a temporary visitor at a rented apartment is normally not a cause for legal action on the part of the landlord, but a problem arises if the visitor begins living at the apartment.  If someone other than the renter begins living at the apartment, the additional party needs to also be on the rental lease.
August 14, 2017

Are there any government incentives to set up a business in Japan?

In order to attract foreign businesses to Japan, the Japanese government has enacted laws specifically designed to provide an incentive for parties who wish to expand their business into Japan.  One such law is the Act for Promotion of Japan as an Asian Business Center, which was put into effect in November of 2012.
August 10, 2017

How do I make money from my copyrights in Japan?

Owning a copyright prevents others from copying your work.  This is helpful to maintain the integrity of your brand but merely preventing copying by itself does not generate any revenue for the copyright owner.  In order to monetize your copyrights, it is important to enter into licensing agreements with other parties who wish to copy your work.
August 7, 2017

Are there any bike safety laws in Japan?

Japanese law mandates that certain safety equipment should be prepared before riding a bike in Japan. Neglecting to use headlights on a bicycle between sunset and sunrise could result in a fine up to 50,000 yen.  Also, children should always have a helmet, whether they are driving the bike or merely riding in the back seat.