Ohara & Furukawa, Author at Ohara & Furukawa

July 29, 2016

Is there an inheritance tax in Japan?

Japan maintains an inheritance tax that applies to wills that are executed under Japanese law. The tax applies equally to assets owned by Japanese citizens inside Japan or outside Japan. However, for non-Japanese citizens, the tax only applies to assets within Japan.

July 27, 2016

Is it possible to appeal a court judgment in Japan?

A judgment at trial declares a winner and a loser to the lawsuit but the losing party still has an opportunity to continue the fight. The losing party may file an appeal with a court of second instance and ask this higher court to review the decision made by the trial judge.

July 25, 2016

Do married couples have a duty to support each other even when separated?

Married couples have a duty to financially support each other during the course of their marriage. This duty to support exists even when the spouses are living separately. Usually these support payments will take the form of monthly bank transfers, similar to child support after divorce. The amount of money should be enough to provide for the daily necessities of the lower-income spouse.

July 22, 2016

What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship in Japan?

When faced with the decision to acquire permanent residency or naturalize as a Japanese citizen, foreign nationals should first consider the benefits and disadvantages of each option. While both options include the legal right to stay in Japan, citizenship also grants certain privileges that permanent residents do not enjoy. However, becoming a Japanese citizen means giving up foreign citizenship which, for some, may outweigh the benefits that Japanese citizenship confers.