<div dir="ltr">J@pan Inc Newsletter<br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr">The 'JIN' J@pan Inc Newsletter<br>A weekly opinion piece on social, economic and political trends<br>in Japan.<br>Issue No. 477 Wednesday August 6, 2008, Tokyo<br>
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-----------------------------------------------------------</p>J@pan Inc Issue 79, August 2008<br><br>The August edition of J@pan Inc magazine, including our<br>legal special feature, is out now. Here are the highlights:<br>
<br>On the cover: Licensed to Bill<br>The three faces on our cover represent three foreign law firms<br>
that have recently entered the Japanese market: Norton Rose from<br>the UK, Quinn Emanuel and Ropes & Gray from the US. As many <br>firms are choosing to expand in China and poised to pounce on<br>India, we consider the lure of Japan. Undeniably, Japanese<br>
corporate culture has changed in the last decade to become more<br>litigious and companies are growing ever more conscious of the<br>need to protect IP. Even day-to-day corporate governance is <br>starting to foster more contract-based processes from employment<br>
paperwork to agreements with suppliers. <br><br>For the foreign firms, changes in the regulatory environment as<br>well as a growing need for their cross-border expertise is also<br>pulling them towards Tokyo. In terms of IP and litigation, <br>
foreign lawyers are picking up the work from domestic companies<br>working internationally and also finding their services in <br>demand by inbound investors and enterprises. In addition to <br>talking with the new firms, we also spoke to Allen & Overy, one<br>
of the first foreign law outfits in Japan, and Nagashima Ohno &<br>Tsunematsu, Japan's largest domestic firm, about the changing<br>dynamics of the industry.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_foreign-law-firms" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_foreign-law-firms</a> <br>
<br>Also in the legal special feature:<br><br>Judgement Day<br>Japan is anomalous among industrialized nations in maintaining <br>the death penalty. This year Justice Minister Kunio Hatoyama <br>has already executed 13 death row inmates and public support for<br>
his actions is high. Anna Kitanaka considers how the move to the<br>lay judge system might affect attitudes towards punishment in <br>Japan. Including interviews with legal experts and campaigners, <br>the article questions the potential of the new citizen juries to <br>
at least fuel wider debate about the penal system, if not <br>change it.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_judgement-day" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_judgement-day</a><br><br>
An Ounce of Prevention<br>
Protecting trade secrets and personal information is an <br>obligation shared by many companies no matter what their<br>business. Databases full of sensitive details can be a headache<br>to secure but even more of a headache if they are breached. Our<br>
legal expert from Kitahama Partners takes readers through the <br>letter of the law and gives some practical tips on how to guard<br>against being left open to a breach of security, and a legal <br>challenge.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_trade-secrets" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_trade-secrets</a><br>
<br>The Sound of Silencing<br>In February, the director of the "Yasukuni" documentary and <br>staff at his production company received death threats, and <br>in March a number of cinemas pulled the film after pressure <br>
from politicians and nationalist groups. April saw a freelance<br>journalist ordered to pay compensation for libel over an article<br>he didn't write but was quoted in. In May, 38 demonstrating <br>students were arrested for trespass on their campus at Tokyo's <br>
prestigious Hosei University and detained without charge for <br>three weeks. In June, the Supreme Court overturned the findings <br>of two lower courts that NHK had buckled to political pressure <br>in altering the contents of a program about WWII sex slaves. <br>
Are these disparate incidents evidence of a lack of protection <br>for the right to freedom of expression guaranteed in Japan's <br>Constitution?<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_freedom-of-expression" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_freedom-of-expression</a><br>
<br>Legal Services Directory<br>Don't miss our comprehensive list of English language capable<br>legal services in Japan<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_legal-services-directory" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_legal-services-directory</a><br>
<br>Other articles include:<br><br>Japan Redefines the World<br>Long the global leader in high-definition television (HDTV), <br>Japan will finally see a rival when the US formally switches <br>over from analog to digital broadcasting next February. While <br>
rough technological parity between the world's two largest <br>economies promises benefits for market players and viewers <br>alike, it could be just a taste of what lies around the corner.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_hdtv" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_hdtv</a><br>
<br>The Greenhouse Effect<br>High fuel prices and air pollution are most often associated <br>with industrial enterprises, factories and cities. However, <br>agriculture is also facing similar pressures and problems. <br>
Specifically, we focus on the problem of heating in <br>greenhouses. Not only do many of the most common systems emit<br>vast amounts of carbon dioxide, they are also responsible for<br>reducing the volume of minerals and vitamins in the produce.<br>
Our writer spoke to Takeo Sugiura of Radiant Systems about how <br>his cutting edge technology heat pump could help the government<br>fulfil its green targets as well as to increase the level of <br>nutrients and minerals in agricultural produce. <br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_heat-pump-technology" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_heat-pump-technology</a><br><br>Dancing in the Reputational Minefield<br>As many Japanese firms have found out, changes in the media, and<br>
particularly the development of online information sources, <br>mean that bad news can spead faster than ever. A case in point<br>is the gyoza debacle eariler in the year where stories of<br>poisoned Chinese dumplings flew around, escalating fear and <br>
causing serious damage to the companies involved. Managing PR<br>crises requires a flexible and tailored approached. This article<br>looks at some recent case studies as well as featuring <br>interviews with PR industry professionals about the best ways to<br>
weather a media storm.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_reputation" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_reputation</a><br><br><p>-------------------- UNMASK JAPAN ! ------------------------<br>
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businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence<br>
in Japan.</p>
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<p>Our goal, no matter how large or small the project,<br>
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<p>For further information please visit our website at<br>
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Or email us directly at <a href="mailto:unmaskjapan@carterasssociates.net">unmaskjapan@carterasssociates.net</a></p>
<p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>The Young & The Restless<br>Japan's traditional lifetime employment system is in a state of <br>
flux as droves of younger employees are quitting their jobs at <br>some of the country's biggest companies, about 62 years before <br>they're expected to. Sarah Noorbakhsh investigates the reasons<br>why so many people are leaving their jobs after only a few <br>
years and how this is changing perceptions among both jobseekers<br>and employers alike.<br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/655b3s" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/655b3s</a><br><br>Keeping Cool?<br>Hugh Ashton explores new technology that that aims to deal <br>
with the energy waste that results from cooling units in<br>data centers.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_data-center-heat" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_data-center-heat</a><br>
<br>A Beer or Not a Beer?<br>
Japanese beer brewers have been varying the content of malted<br>barley in their beers since the inventions of 'happoshu' back in<br>1995. Now new tax laws looks set to push brewers to stretch <br>their ratios even further. This leaves us wondering to just what<br>
extent the boundaries of beer and its deviant mutations can be <br>blurred.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_beer-brewers" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_beer-brewers</a><br><br>
Case Studies<br>
There seems to be something of an obsession with business bags <br>in Japan. Visit any department store on a weekend and find fresh<br>college graduates ready to enter their first jobs or working <br>people spending a good portion of their days off carefully <br>
inspecting the seemingly endless array of available shoulder <br>bags, totes and briefcases. Finding the right bag depends on <br>one's personal approach to both work and style.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-bag-fashion" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-bag-fashion</a><br>
<br>CEO Interview: Peter Massion, President & CFO, Henkel Japan.<br>From hair care products to industrial adhesives - where is <br>Henkel placed in the Japanese market?<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_peter-massion" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_peter-massion</a><br>
<br>Business Break & Trends in Japan<br>Our regular round-up of new businesses, IPO Watch and<br>trend news, this month on toys.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-break" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-break</a><br>
<a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_trends-in-japan" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_trends-in-japan</a><br><br>Measure for Measure<br>Industry and economic environment statistics, plus a focus on<br>
classy conevenience store, Natural Lawsons.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_measure-for-measure" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_measure-for-measure</a><br><br>Chamber of Commerce Interview<br>
J@pan Inc talks to Dr. Greg Story, Chairman of the Australian &<br>New Zealand Chamber of Commerce.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_dr-greg-story" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_dr-greg-story</a><br>
<br>Inside Out: Business in Peru<br>Our column on emerging markets considers risks and<br>opportunities in Peru and Peru-Japan relations.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-in-peru" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_business-in-peru</a><br>
<br>Restaurant Review: Davis Too<br>Unique Tokyo dining.<br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/6hbp4r" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/6hbp4r</a><br><br>Arrivals & Departures<br>Who's coming and going in the international business<br>
community here in Japan.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_arrivals-and-departures" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_arrivals-and-departures</a><br><br>NEW: Sudoku<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_sudoku" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_sudoku</a><br>
<br>Back & Forward<br>Ken Worsley's satirical take on the economy.<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_back-and-forward" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_back-and-forward</a><br>
<br>J@pan Inc Classifieds<br>
Jobs, Services, Events, Support<br><a href="http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_classifieds" target="_blank">http://www.japaninc.com/mgz_august_2008_classifieds</a><br><br>We hope you enjoy this issue,<br><font color="#888888"><br>
<font style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" size="2">The Editors.<br></font></font></div>
</div><br>++EVENTS<br><p>-----------------------------------------------------------</p>
<p>DockDogs sporting event is coming to Japan!</p>
<p>DockDogs, the world's largest sporting event for dogs, has<br>
become a high-profile outdoor entertainment venue closely<br>
covered by major US media including ESPN. </p>
<p>Debuting in Japan this year, DockDogs provides exceptional<br>
marketing value for sponsor and venue partners in media,<br>
entertainment, the pet business, and the outdoor market.</p>
<p>There is still opportunity to be part of the DockDogs<br>
inaugural event, but time is short.<br>
Please contact the DockDogs Japan Office right away<br>
for more detail.</p>
<p>DockDogs Japan Office<br>
<a href="http://www.dockdogs.jp/" title="www.dockdogs.jp">www.dockdogs.jp</a><br>
<a href="mailto:ddj@mb-ltd.jp">ddj@mb-ltd.jp</a></p>
<p>---------- International Business Awards Japan ------------</p>
<p>**J@pan Inc is pleased to announce the opening of nominations<br>
for the International Business Awards Japan 2008**</p>
<p>Is your CEO or company worthy of recognition? The J@pan Inc<br>
International Business Awards 2008 gives you the opportunity<br>
to nominate business people and corporations you feel deserve<br>
to win an award </p>
<p> HAVE YOUR SAY, GO TO <a href="http://www.japaninc.com/" title="http://www.japaninc.com/">http://www.japaninc.com/</a></p>
<p> CORPORATE SPONSORS WELCOME<br>
-----------------------------------------------------------</p><br>++END<br></div>