News & Blog

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.
August 3, 2017

Are there any items that cannot be included in a bankruptcy estate?

The bankruptcy estate is composed of the assets held by the applicant at the time of filing for bankruptcy.  However, there are some exceptions to what can be included in the estate.  When a natural person goes through bankruptcy, the court will limit the estate so that a certain range of assets critical to protecting the debtor’s life cannot be included.
August 1, 2017

What types of cases do public prosecutors handle in Japan?

Public prosecutors in Japan handle a variety of cases but in general they are split between two types: violations of Japan’s penal code (criminal cases) and violations of traffic laws.  Statistically, the numbers of these cases are similar but criminal cases make up a small majority.
July 28, 2017

Do foreign nationals need to file any extra documents to divorce in Japan?

As long as both parties are in agreement, divorce in Japan can be accomplished with surprisingly ease.  A Divorce by Agreement in Japan only requires both parties to sign or stamp their seal on a Registration of Divorce and submit it to the local government office.  Approximately 90% of divorces in Japan are conducted this way.