The Zeitschrift für Japanisches Recht/Journal of Japanese Law (abbr. ZJapanR/J.Japan.L) is at present the only ongoing publication in Europe that comprehensively focuses on current developments in Japanese law and provides expert analysis of these development from both Japanese and foreign experts in western languages. It is prepared on the Institute by a team of researchers under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Harald Baum, Senior Research Fellow with responsibility for Japan. The Journal, first conceived by Baum in 1996, is released twice yearly in formal cooperation with the German-Japanese Association of Jurists (DJJV) and typically offers coverage of approximately 300 pages. It has been published by the Carl Heymann Verlag since 2006 and (as previously) is made available at no additional cost to members of the DJJV.
The journal pursues several goals. The primary concern is broadening and deepening knowledge in respect to Japanese law in that Japan continues to rank as the second largest economic power in the world and is the leading nation in Asia. Notwithstanding this fact, familiarity with Japanese law – at least in Europe - continues to lag behind the economic and political significance of Japan. The Journal of Japanese Law strives to correct this deficit.
Extensive reports and analyses are assembled in the “Articles” section and form the bulk of the issue. The areas of civil law, commercial law and economic law consciously represent a recurrent thematic emphasis. Additionally, as appropriate, issues may offer a thematic focus on a particular legal field in order to allow for more in-depth analysis. In the section “Documentation”, the issue regularly provides translations of important new Japanese laws along with an introductory discussion. The summary provided in “Recent Legal Developments” reports on current legislative proceedings ongoing in Japan. Alongside a chart providing an updated chronology, brief commentary on significant parliamentary developments is provided. Additionally, information is furnished on legal topics currently under discussion in Japan. Conflicts of law with regards to private law and procedure also represent a particular emphasis of the publication. These themes are integrated in the „Case Law“-section, a survey of judicial decisions rendered in Japanese courts, including translation and commentary. Once a year, this section is augmented with a synopsis of the most significant civil law and economic law decisions of the Supreme Court of Japan. The Journal rounds out its presentation with book and lecture reviews as well as accounts from relevant conferences.
German and English articles are featured in approximately equal ratios and every article is supplemented with a summary in the alternate language, thus accommodating an international readership. In this fashion, the Journal simultaneously offers the English speaking community insight on the perspectives and commitment of German research with regards to Japanese law. Numbered among the Journal’s contributors are well-known German and international scholars as well as practitioners experienced in Japanese law, thereby making a particularly broad spectrum of analysis possible. An extended network of international cooperation facilitates the Journal’s compilation of globally diverse expertise. Of particular note is the close editorial relationship which has developed with researchers based in Australia who specialise on Japanese law, a very active group of scholars who have affiliated themselves in the Australian Network for Japanese Law (ANJeL).
In addition to this pool of expertise, numerous scholarly papers and reports have been penned by young jurists and Japan specialists from in and outside of Germany who have focused on Japanese In this regard, the Journal tangibly supports scholarly research by providing an opportunity for these young scholars to publish an article in its pages. Finally, the Journal strives to be a forum for Japanese jurists conducting research projects in Germany or elsewhere.
An overview of the Journal’s content to date together with summaries of all previous contributions can be found online in the Journal's archives section.