Articles for category: Japan

Breaking with Conservatism?

The Japanese Supreme Court has been described as “the most conservative constitutional court in the world”. And, though lower courts can sometimes be more active, the Japanese judiciary as a whole tends also to be referred to as conservative. However, recent developments challenge this view. In particular, Japanese courts have begun to issue rulings in favour of the rights of sexual and gender minorities on issues like same-sex marriage and gender recognition. Do these decisions suggest that the conservatism of the Japanese judiciary has been overstated – or are they signs of change?

7. August 2024

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New Salt into an Open Wound

The entry ban imposed by the Japanese government on April 3 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic has shed a new light on the somewhat “schizophrenic” situation that foreign nationals in Japan often find themselves in. While the Japanese government is slowly trying to open the labor market for foreign talent, launching internationalization campaigns at universities and building towards an international image surrounding the upcoming Olympic Games, the reality of foreign workers’ rights protection in Japan looks bleak in many respects. In fact, foreign residents in Japan still face social and legal discrimination of various kinds.

30. Juni 2020

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Japan’s Soft State of Emergency: Social Pressure Instead of Legal Penalty

People have been perplexed by the slow and soft approach of the Japanese government in their attempt to bring COVID-19 under control. The first case of COVID-19 in Japan was confirmed on 16 January 2020. On 30 January, the Japanese government set up the COVID-19 Countermeasures Headquarters. It published emergency countermeasures against COVID-19 on 13 February and presented Basic Policies for Coronavirus Disease Control on 25 February. However, none of these measures have introduced drastic measures such as border controls and/or curfews.

13. Mai 2020

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Rechtswissenschaft in Japan: Interessiert an uns, interessant für uns

Wer an einem Montagabend nach 18 Uhr in einem Geschäftshaus der Osaker Innenstadt in den vierten Stock gerät, mag dort auf eine erstaunliche Versammlung treffen. Hier in Räumen der städtischen Universität sitzen unter der Leitung von Kenichi Moriya, Professor dort, und Atsuhi Takada, Professor an der staatlichen Universität Osaka, Studenten, Doktoranden und Emeriti zusammen und lesen Savignys Schrift gegen die Kodifikation, langsam und gründlich Satz für Satz aus dem deutschen Original übersetzend und in seiner Bedeutung drehend und wendend. Seit fünf Jahren findet dieses Seminar extracurricular statt. Gelesen werden wichtige deutschsprachige rechtswissenschaftliche Texte, die nicht ins Japanische übersetzt werden – ... continue reading

15. März 2013