News & Blog

July 13, 2017

Is it OK for a parent and two children to ride together on a bike?

There are special laws relating to multiple people riding on a single bicycle.  Breaking one of these rules can result in a fine of up to 20,000 yen.  Normally, only one person should ride a bicycle at a time, but a rider over 16 years of age may carry up to two additional preschoolers (6 years or under) on specialized seats on the bike or somehow securely attached to the driver (if under 4 years).
July 11, 2017

What happens to the contracts that a debtor is still performing at the start of a bankruptcy proceeding?

Sometimes, a debtor will still be in the process of performing a contract when he or she files for bankruptcy.  If the contract is still at a stage where both the debtor and the contracting party have not finished their performance, the liquidator often has the choice between continuing the contract or canceling it completely.  If performance on the contract would result in further assets for the debtor to distribute to creditors, it is in court’s interest to allow the debtor to continue performance of the contract.
July 5, 2017

Are most cases settled in Japan?

Many cases in Japan are settled by the parties before the final judgment is delivered.  Many judges actually encourage parties to settle their disputes as it is usually easier to enforce an agreement that both parties have negotiated rather than an order granted by a judge.
July 3, 2017

Is it possible to sue someone for engagement fraud in Japan?

Breach of a promise to marry can lead to an award of damages in Japan.  Furthermore, similar to some types of commercial contracts, promises to marry do not have to be written down to be enforceable, as long as there is enough evidence to show the existence of the promise.  In many cases for breach of a promise to marry, the promise can be proved through showing that the couple had a traditional engagement ceremony, notified family and friends or purchased rings before the promise was broken.