Knowledge | ARQIS Foreign Law Office

Recent Trends in Renewable Energy in Japan: Hydrogen Energy

Newsletter

In 2023, Japan made certain important amendment to its policy regarding hydrogen energy. This newsletter provides an overview of the amendment.

OPEN PDF

Setting up Business in Japan

Newsletter

Japan continues to attract the interest of foreign investors. Japanese law provides for a broad variety of legal types of investment, the most prevalent whereof are described in this newsletter.
OPEN PDF

Offshore Wind Power Generation in Japan; current development

Newsletter

The recent major developments in offshore wind power generation in 2023, in particular the regulatory updates and the circumstances of new and potential projects are summarized in this newsletter.

OPEN PDF

Expansion of the Scope of Business Categories subject to BOJ Prior Notification Filing

Newsflash

From May 2023 onwards, the scope of foreign investors’ mandatory prior notification to the competent authorities has been further expanded by newly added core business sectors subject to the notification.

OPEN PDF

Human Resources – Advocating for flexible, positive, and healthy workplaces

Interview

Dr. Tobias Schiebe, the chair of the EBC Human Resources Committee spoke with Eurobiz Japan about the committee’s activities.
OPEN PDF

Stricter policies, safer data – Amendments to Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information come into force

Newsletter

Amendments to Japan’s data protection rules significantly alter the landscape for companies that collect data from their customers, business partners, or anyone else they interact with.

OPEN PDF

Data Protection: “We expect increased awareness”

Interview

Dr. Tobias Schiebe and Daniel Schwarz spoke to Asia Bridge, the largest German-language publication on Asian markets, about changes to the Japanese data protection laws.

OPEN PDF

Stricter Road Safety Rules in Japan: Mandatory Alcohol Check for Employees

Newsletter

The Safe Driving Manager of a company making use of vehicles by its employees faces a series of a new duties in relation to controlling and confirming the alcohol level of drivers using vehicles for business.

OPEN PDF

From Human Rights to the Environment: How the German legislator regulates global supply chains

Article

Dr. Carmen Appenzeller and Ulrich Kirchhoff write on the German Supply Chain Act and its effects for Japan-based companies in the AHK Japan’s publication Japanmarkt.

OPEN PDF

Restructuring Human Resources

Newsletter

Restructuring human resources may include various measures, from the revision of salary schemes and compensation conditions to redundancy proceedings or dismissals.

OPEN PDF

Workplace Harassment

Newsletter

The Anti-Harassment Act now applies to all employers in Japan. Cultural and linguistic misunderstandings increase the risk of harassment claims for foreign companies in Japan.

OPEN PDF

German FDI Screening

Newsletter

Following the global trend of tightening the oversight of foreign direct investment (“FDI”), the German government has stepped stepped up its FDI screening and increased sanctions.

OPEN PDF

Assertion of Monetary Claims

Newsletter

This newsletter describes the most common court procedures for claim assertion in Japan to help foreign investors understand how to enforce their rights.

OPEN PDF

COVID-19 Vaccination for employees

Newsletter

Labor law questions arise what kind of options employers have to incentivize employee’s vaccinations against COVID-19 in this situation and where legal limitations exist.

OPEN PDF

German Supply Chain Act

Newsletter

New compliance obligations under German law to prevent human rights and certain environmental risks along the entire value chain will also impact Japan-based companies.

OPEN PDF

Re-Employment after Retirement Age

Newsletter

Since 1 April 2021, a legal amendment has been effective which seeks to promote further employment of elderly employees until the age of 70.

OPEN PDF

The End Of The Paperchase

Interview

Dr. Tobias Schiebe comments on trends to digitalize legal procedures in Japan for Eurobiz Japan, a monthly print magazine about trade, business and investment from Europe to Japan.

OPEN PDF

Major Trends in Offshore Wind Power Generation in Japan

Newsletter

The recent major developments in offshore wind power generation in Japan are summarized in this newsletter.

OPEN PDF

Amendments to Japanese Rules on Renewable Energy

Newsletter

Renewable energy operators should pay attention to the new rules on feed-in premiums, infrastructure charges, disposal of solar power facilities, and inoperative plants.

OPEN PDF

„Remote Workforce“: Cybersecurity und Datenschutz sind Pflicht

Article

Das Risiko von Cyberangriffen steigt weltweit. Sowohl Gesetzgeber und Behörden als auch Unternehmen und Individuen sind daher gefordert, ein Bewusstsein für Risiken zu entwickeln und Vorkehrungen zu treffen. Covid-19 hat die Arbeitswelt rapide verändert. War Telearbeit vor der Pandemie üblicherweise nur eine Option für einige wenige Mitarbeiter, wurde sie innerhalb kürzester Zeit für viele Unternehmen zum neuen Standard, um eine Ausbreitung des Coronavirus zu verhindern.

OPEN PDF

BOJ Filing and FDI Category Expansion

Newsletter

Since 2020, foreign investors face significantly more mandatory prior-notification obligations to the competent governmental authorities through the Bank of Japan (BOJ).

OPEN PDF

Notification Obligations for Investors in Listed Companies

Newsletter

Foreign investors must observe various reporting obligations when making equity investments in a public Japanese stock corporation.

OPEN PDF

Balancing Home Office with Office Work

Newsletter

Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have chosen to continue teleworking in one way or another. We discuss some legal questions and the consequences for employer and employees.

OPEN PDF

COVID-19 Outbreak in Japan: Legal Implications from a HR perspective

Event

Rie Taiko (TMI Associates) and Dr. Tobias Schiebe spoke at a webinar hosted by the AHK Japan on challenges for employers during the pandemic.

Overtime

Newsletter

Overtime is one of the most sensitive topics in Japanese labor relations, and overtime-related investigations by the competent authorities are expected to increase.

OPEN PDF

Corporate Governance Structures for Japanese Stock Corporations

Newsletter

A Japanese stock corporation can be governed by one of three alternative governance schemes: (1.) a company with a board of statutory auditors; (2.) a committee-type company; and (3.) a company with audit and supervisory Committee.

OPEN PDF

HR Compliance: Power and Sexual Harrasment

Newsletter

This newsletter will explain the most frequent types of harassment, what companies can do to mitigate the risk of harassment, and how to react in the event a harassment claim is made.

OPEN PDF

Work Style Reform

Newsletter

The reform aims at reducing excessive overtime hours of employees in order to prevent stress-induced illnesses and nourish a more balanced work-life culture.

OPEN PDF

Common Misconceptions about GDPR

Newsletter

This newsletter addresses frequent questions and misconceptions about the GDPR with a focus on Japanese companies doing business with Germany.

OPEN PDF

E-Commerce in Japan

Article

Ulrich Kirchhoff and Dr. Tobias Schiebe write in the AHK Japan’s publication Japanmarkt about legal requirements and contractual solutions for a successful online business in Japan.

OPEN PDF

Low-Performer: How to separate?

Article

Rie Taiko (TMI Associates) and Dr. Tobias Schiebe write in the AHK Japan’s publication Japanmarkt about Japanese employment protection law.

OPEN PDF