First and foremost, this is a book about the commercial law of Japan. Initially published in 1992, the second edition endeavors to reflect the many changes that have occurred in Japanese law in the years since the release of the first edition. Sweeping changes in many aspects of Japanese commercial law have been an essential part of the dramatic, and ongoing, restructuring of the way business is done in Japan, especially in the financial industry.
It is a daunting task, indeed, to explain the process of legal reform, while providing readers with the background and overall structure of Japanese law and the legal system. Fortunately, few people are better equipped for this task than Professor Oda. Formerly a professor of law at Tokyo University, he is now Sir Ernest Satow Professor of Japanese Law at the University of London (University College), a professor of College d'Europe (Brugge) and a licensed Japanese lawyer. In addition to his academic work, Oda serves as a legal consultant to a leading firm of English solicitors with offices in both London and Tokyo. It is not surprising, therefore, that he successfully combines in this book the thoroughness of a world-class academic with the practical and useful insights of a seasoned legal adviser.
While this book will be an important addition to the library of anyone interested in Japanese law and society, it will be of particular interest to foreign business people desiring to understand the broad parameters of Japanese business law and how it is likely to impact on their daily operations. Its superb organization and lucid prose make the book a valuable resource guide with necessary information presented in clearly delineated chapters such as the general principles and institutions of private law, law of property, the law of obligations (including contracts and agency), the law of tort, company law, financial law, antimonopoly law, intellectual-property law and labor law. Additional chapters provide background and deal with broader legal issues like the history of Japanese law, sources of law, the administration of justice, the legal profession, the protection of human rights, family law and succession, civil procedure, criminal law and procedure, and international relations.