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Information about international arbitration

September 22, 2021

Promotion of International Arbitration

The government of Japan, in its "Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2021," which was adopted by the Cabinet on June 18, 2021, renewed its commitment to the promotion of international arbitration in order to enhance Japan’s standing as an international financial center that is open to the world.

Rather than litigating disputes before national courts, international arbitration is a faster dispute resolution process, whereby third-party arbitrators chosen by the parties hear the case and issue awards. It is now a global standard for resolving legal conflicts involving international commerce.

Japan has developed a secure environment for foreign businesses to operate in Japan, providing the necessary infrastructure to enable foreign businesses to resolve legal conflicts by international arbitration in a manner consistent with global standards.

Establishment of the JIDRC Tokyo

In March 2020, the Japan International Dispute Resolution Center (JIDRC) Tokyo opened in Toranomon, Tokyo, as an arbitration center equipped with state-of-the-art technologies. The service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, at low cost.

JIDRC web page:
http://idrc.jp/en/

MOJ web page:
https://www.moj.go.jp/EN/kokusai/kokusai03_00003.html

Arbitration-Related Legislation

  • The "Arbitration Act" of Japan is based on the "UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration," and Japan is also a member of the "Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention)." Japanese courts refrain from excessively interfering with arbitration proceedings and take a cooperative stance towards the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards, thus making the Japanese arbitration process desirable.
  • In May 2020, the "Act on Special Measures Concerning the Handling of Legal Services by Foreign Lawyers (Foreign Lawyers Act)" was revised to expand the scope of representation by foreign lawyers to include international arbitration.
    Learn more:
    https://www.moj.go.jp/content/001331477.pdf