Ohara & Furukawa, Author at Ohara & Furukawa

August 10, 2016

What kind of visa is required to study in Japan?

Foreign nationals who wish to study in Japan can obtain a student visa that will grant them legal status to pursue their education while in Japan. As part of the visa application process, the foreign national will still need to provide some documentation. This may include proof of ability to pay tuition and/or proof of graduation from either high school or college, depending on the level of school the student wishes to attend in Japan.

August 8, 2016

What is the interest rate used by courts in Japan?

The Japanese the Commercial Code specifies a statutory interest rate of 6% annual to be applied between merchants when no interest rate is specified in the contract. If two business partners agree to a loan in their contract, but neglect to specify an interest rate, the court will automatically set the rate at 6%.

August 5, 2016

Is it legal to have employees pay a penalty when they quit without notice?

In order to ensure predictability in the management of their business and staff, many employers will draft employment contracts that specify that employees must give notice before quitting their job. Typically the required notice will be several weeks to several months. However, even if an employee fails to give notice, employers cannot force pre-determined penalties on employees who suddenly quit.

August 3, 2016

If an employee creates an invention, will the patent belong to the employee or the company?

Sometimes the right to patent an invention doesn’t rest directly with the inventor but rather with the company the inventor works for. Many companies, universities and research centers take measures to ensure that the institution, and not the inventor, owns all patents arising from an invention.