Ohara & Furukawa, Author at Ohara & Furukawa

December 29, 2016

Why is it important to negotiate a foreign debt?

Having a foreign judgment against a Japanese person or company entitles the debt’s owner to legally enforce the debt in Japan. However, while this is the only solution in many cases, enforcing that debt can cost money and time and it may be advisable to pursue other options before filing a lawsuit. Rather than immediately pursue legal action, usually it is beneficial to have an attorney contact the debtor and open negotiations first.

December 27, 2016

What if one party does not appear at the arbitration?

If a party to the arbitration does not appear then the arbitrators will need to make their decision based upon the evidence available to them. One party failing to appear will not ordinarily suspend or cancel an arbitration. Therefore, it is important for both parties to make an appearance so the arbitrators can make a fully informed decision.

December 23, 2016

Does a wife have the responsibility to pay off a debt that her husband created?

Married couples in Japan are responsible for sharing expenses related to the marriage. Specifically, if one spouse signs a contract with a third party regarding everyday household matters (such as a cleaning service) then the other spouse will also be a responsible party under this contract unless there is prior notice given that he or she will not assume any liability under the agreement. However, this sharing of costs for household necessities and daily expenses does not extend to liability incurred in other areas not related to the marriage. For example, barring some special circumstance, a wife will not be […]

December 21, 2016

How are points awarded for a highly skilled professional under Japan’s immigration system?

Under Japan’s new point-based immigration preference system, points are given to highly-skilled foreigners for a variety of accomplishments. For example, points can be awarded for having a doctorate, years of work experience, Japanese fluency, high salary and published papers among other things. Accumulating over 70 points allows the highly-skilled foreigner to qualify for special immigration preference.