Dear friends, clients and colleagues,

We are delighted to send you the Oh‒Ebashi LPC & Partner’s English Newsletter which has been containing short articles relating to legal developments within Japan.

Japanese laws and legal practice are constantly changing and being updated.
Through this Newsletter, we hope to keep you abreast of important developments within the country and, as necessary, help you make timely and informed decisions.

Should you have any questions about your specific industry or area of law, or wish to know more about our firm’s services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Our latest Issue

2026.06.26 　OH-EBASHI English Newsletter_2026 Summer Issue was published.

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1. Japan Issues First Discontinuance Recommendation under the 2017 Amended FEFTA by Tomomi Fukutomi

The Japanese government has issued its first discontinuance recommendation in 18 years under the 2017 Amended FEFTA. This article provides key insights into corporate acquisitions in Japan as authorities intensify their scrutiny of transactions involving potential national security concerns.

2. The TRIPP TRAPP Chair Decision: The Supreme Court’s New Standard for Copyright Protection of Mass-Produced Utilitarian Goods by Kento Sumi

This article highlights the recent landmark Japan Supreme Court ruling regarding the well-known “TRIPP TRAPP” children’s chair. The decision has established a much-needed new standard for analyzing copyright claims for protection for mass-produced utilitarian products in Japan. Manufacturers and other businesses marketing products in Japan should be aware of this new standard of copyright protection for industrial products.

3. Japan’s AI Guidelines for Business: Key Updates in Version 1.2 Thereof by Yuka Minoda

This article outlines the updates introduced in Version 1.2 of Japan’s AI Guidelines for Business, including key revisions to business classifications, AI-related risks, and provisions on AI agents and physical AI. Understanding these developments will be critical for any business in Japan considering the adoption or deployment of AI tools.

Click HERE to access this edition of our Newsletter.

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To refer to past issues of our English Newsletter, kindly click HERE.

Oh-Ebashi English Newsletter Editorial Team

Seigo Takehira / Partner
Hajime Taniuchi / Partner
Takashi Hirose / Partner
Yuichi Urata / Partner
Hisako Matsuda / Registered Foreign Lawyer
Miriam Rose Ivan L. Pereira / Counsel
Nicholas Robin Jesson / Registered Foreign Lawyer

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For inquiries, questions or comments, please contact us at newsletter_japan@ohebashi.com
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