PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment 2025 - Japan Chapter

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Q&A
・What are the most important new developments in your jurisdiction over the past year in employment law?
・What upcoming legislation or regulation do you anticipate will have a significant impact on employment law in your jurisdiction?
・How has the #MeToo movement impacted the investigation or settlement of harassment or discrimination claims in your jurisdiction?
・What are the key factors for companies to consider regarding the enforcement of restrictive covenants against departing employees?
・In which industry sectors has employment law been a hot topic recently? Why?
・What are the key political debates about employment currently playing out in your jurisdiction? What effects are they having?

THE INSIDE TRACK
・What are the particular skills that clients are looking for in an effective labour & employment lawyer?
・What are the key considerations for clients and their lawyers when handling employment disputes?
・What are the most interesting and challenging cases you have dealt with in the past year?

Authors： Ayako Kanamaru Ryotaro Yamamoto
Magazine/Book：PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment 2025
Publisher：Law Business Research Ltd.
Practice： Employment Consulting Labor Disputes and Proceedings HR, Pensions and Benefit Programs
Date of publication： November 28, 2025

Other publications by Ayako Kanamaru

2025.09.17
[Court Case] A Case in which a Person who Reported Racial Harassment was Disciplined for his Post-Investigation Speech and Behavior
2025.03.19
PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment - Japan Chapter
2025.03.19
[Court Case] The Case Denying a Housekeeper who was Working Concurrently as a Home Nursing Caregiver from Being Considered a “Domestic Worker”
2024.06.19
[Court Case] A Case in which a Reassignment Order for the Purpose of Personnel Management was Declared Valid
2023.12.20
[Court Case] A Case in which it was Determined Valid to Refuse Renewal of a Fixed-term Employment Contract that has a Non-renewal Clause Added after Several Renewals
2023.10.23
【Series】 The latest Philippine Legal Update
2023.06.08
[Court Case] A case in which the Validity of a Fixed Amount of Overtime Pay was Denied Based on the Process of Introducing a New Salary Structure
2022.01.25
Employment and Immigration Law Guide 2022　Jurisdiction:Japan
2020.09.07
Doing Business in Asia Pacific - IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum, September 2020
2020.06.01
【Special Series on COVID-19: Thailand (2)】 Measures to Alleviate Required Company Procedures and Measures Related to Employment (as of May 28, 2020)
2020.05.27
【Special Series on COVID-19: Thailand (1)】Financial Support Measures for the COVID-19 Pandemic (as of May 26, 2020)
2020.05.26
【Special Series on COVID-19: Philippines】 Relief Measures for the COVID-19 Pandemic (as of May 20, 2020)
2018.01.05
Feature Article: Promoting the Use of Corporate Reorganization Proceedings “Part III: The Corporate Reorganization Case of Rams Corporation”
2017.06.01
Lawyers Guide - Labor/Tax edition A Supplementary Volume to Business Law Journal No.113 (August 2017)
2016.12.15
Web Commentary on TPP "2.4 National Treatment and Market Access for Goods (Agriculture)"
2016.05.09
The Legal Practice on Business Expansions to the Philippines - Chapter 1: Details and points to note on restrictions on foreign investment -
2014.08.19
Q&A about the Singapore Personal Data Protection Act
2014.08.01
Q&A on the Personal Data Protection Act of Singapore

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Other publications by Ryotaro Yamamoto

2025.06.18
[Court Case] A Case in which Status as a Person in a Position of Supervision or Management was Recognized for a Manager of a Used Car Dealership
2025.03.19
PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment - Japan Chapter
2024.09.18
[Court Case] Obligation to Pay Wages for Non-working Hours due to 'Maternity Harassment'
2023.09.13
[Court Case] A Case in which the Client’s Breach of the Duty of Care for Safety was Recognized with Respect to Harassment toward a Freelancer
2023.04.28
The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides -Japan Doing Business In
2022.10.03
An Introduction to Startup Investments by Business Companies (Part Ⅱ)
2022.07.01
An Introduction to Startup Investments by Business Companies (Part I)
2022.01.25
Employment and Immigration Law Guide 2022　Jurisdiction:Japan
2020.12.01
Start-up Investment Agreement – Model Agreement and Commentary Thereon
2020.09.07
Doing Business in Asia Pacific - IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum, September 2020
2019.06.21
Best Practices of Forming Venture Capital Funds - A Commentary on the New Model Contract and the Market-Value Valuation Method
2018.12.21
The Regulatory Sandbox in Japan
2018.09.15
Publication of “A Limited Partnership Agreement for Investment (Template) and an Explanation Thereof” (2)
2018.09.01
Business Transfer Practices – Everything about Legal, Labor, Accounting and Tax
2018.09.01
Publication of “A Limited Partnership Agreement for Investment (Template) and an Explanation Thereof” (1)
2018.08.28
The Act on Special Measures for Productivity Improvement (Part 2) - Outline of the System to Facilitate Data Sharing and Collaboration
2018.08.10
The Act on Special Measures for Productivity Improvement (Part 1) - What does the “Regulatory Sandbox” mean?
2018.01.10
Global Legal Insights : Employment & Labour Law 2018, 6th Edition : Chapter Japan
2017.09.12
Employee Hiring Guidelines in Japan
2017.07.21
Establishment of the First Law on Sharing Economy -Gist of the New “Minpaku” Law
2017.02.25
The Features of Annual General Meetings of Shareholders Held in 2016 and the Analysis thereon,
2016.12.20
Global Legal Insights : Employment & Labour Law 2017, 5th Edition : Chapter Japan

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Other publications about Labor Disputes and Proceedings

2025.12.01
PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment 2025 - Japan Chapter
2025.09.17
[Court Case] A Case in which a Person who Reported Racial Harassment was Disciplined for his Post-Investigation Speech and Behavior
2025.09.17
[Court Case] Whether it Constitutes Power Harassment when a Superior Reprimanded his Subordinate via Email with Others Included as Recipients
2025.09.17
[Court Case] Issues Arising from Preparing a Contract with Working Conditions Different from Those in the Job Posting prior to the Commencement of Work
2025.06.30
Legal Issues and Challenges in Supporting the Balance Between Treatment and Work
2025.06.30
Analysis of the Sharp NEC Display Solutions Case, Examining Return-to-Work Assessment Criteria and the Scope of the Court Decision
2025.06.18
[Court Case] A Case in which Status as a Person in a Position of Supervision or Management was Recognized for a Manager of a Used Car Dealership
2025.06.18
[Court Case] A High Court Decision that Reversed a District Court Decision that Had Determined a Company’s Exercise of its Right to Change the Period of Requested Paid Leave was Unlawful, and Determined such Exercise was Lawful
2025.06.18
[Court Case] A Case which Affirmed Non-renewal of a Fixed-term Employment Contract in Post-Retirement Re-Employment Due to Failure to Reach an Agreement on Changes to Less Favorable Terms and Conditions
2025.03.19
PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment - Japan Chapter
2025.03.19
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2025.03.19
[Court Case] Validity of Dismissal of a Worker who Blew the Whistle
2024.12.18
[Court Case] A Case in which the Employer’s Unilateral Relocation Order Despite an Agreement to Limit the Job Type was Determined to be Unlawful
2024.12.18
[Court Case] A Case in which a Reduction of Retirement Allowance Based on Breach of the Post-Termination Non-Competition Clause in the Employment Agreement was Determined to be Valid
2024.12.18
[Court Case] A Case Regarding the Legality of the Assignment and other Conditions upon Return from Childcare Leave Related to the Organizational Change that Occurred during the Leave
2024.11.21
Summary of Issues of Labor Law Practice Regarding Non-competition and Preventing Trade Secrets from Being Taken in or out of the Company (Business Homu, January 2025)
2024.09.18
[Court Case] Obligation to Pay Wages for Non-working Hours due to 'Maternity Harassment'
2024.09.18
[Court Case] The Supreme Court Decision on whether or not the System of Deemed Working Hours Outside the Workplace Applies
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Status as an Employee under the Labor Standards Act was Affirmed with Respect to an Idol Group Member
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[Court Case] A Case in which On-call Hours of a Medical Resident were Denied as Working Hours
2024.06.20
Business Practice/Hanrei Riview ≪Case Studies≫ Sakai Hikkoshi center Case (The Tachikawa Branch of the Tokyo District Court, August 9, 2023, Rodo Hanrei No.1305, p.5）
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[Court Case] A Case in which a Reassignment Order for the Purpose of Personnel Management was Declared Valid
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[Court Case] A Case in which Encouragement of Resignation upon Becoming Aware of the Employee’s Mental Disorder was Found to be an Act to Harm his Moral Interest and Held Unlawful
2023.12.30
Failure Studies on Industrial Health across Multiple Occupations (Yokogawa Electric case)
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Application of the System of Deemed Working Hours Outside the Workplace was Denied for Medical Reps
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[Court Case] A Case in which Conclusion of a Labor Contract was Denied because an Agreement had not been Reached on the Wage Amount
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[Court Case] A Case in which it was Determined Valid to Refuse Renewal of a Fixed-term Employment Contract that has a Non-renewal Clause Added after Several Renewals
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[Court Case] A Case in which a Dismissal due to Winding-up of the Company was Found Valid
2023.11.24
[Serial Article/Legal Affairs for Companies Expanding Overseas] [No.8] Duties of Companies to their Employees in Overseas Countries During a Crisis Therein and the Response to Such Crisis – From the Perspectives of Governing Law and Duty of Care for Safety
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Delay in Providing the Results of an Investigation Regarding Harassment and the Like to the Person who Reported the Incident was Found to be a Breach of the Duty of Care for Safety and the Principle of Good Faith and thereby Constitute a Breach of Obligation
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Disciplinary Dismissal of an Employee who Refused a Relocation Order because he Had to Take Care of his Child with a Chronic Illness and Elderly Mother was Found Valid
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Client’s Breach of the Duty of Care for Safety was Recognized with Respect to Harassment toward a Freelancer
2023.09.13
[Court Case] A Case in which the Company’s Claim for Damages against a Former Employee on the Grounds of Breach of a Non-competition Obligation was Dismissed
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Business Practice/Hanrei Riview ≪Case Studies≫ Hagoromo Gakuen (Hagoromo International University) Case (Osaka High Court, January 18, 2023, Rodo Hanrei No.1285, p.18）
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PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment 2025 - Japan Chapter
2025.09.17
[Court Case] A Case in which a Person who Reported Racial Harassment was Disciplined for his Post-Investigation Speech and Behavior
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[Court Case] Whether it Constitutes Power Harassment when a Superior Reprimanded his Subordinate via Email with Others Included as Recipients
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[Court Case] Issues Arising from Preparing a Contract with Working Conditions Different from Those in the Job Posting prior to the Commencement of Work
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[Court Case] A Case in which Status as a Person in a Position of Supervision or Management was Recognized for a Manager of a Used Car Dealership
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[Court Case] A High Court Decision that Reversed a District Court Decision that Had Determined a Company’s Exercise of its Right to Change the Period of Requested Paid Leave was Unlawful, and Determined such Exercise was Lawful
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[Court Case] A Case which Affirmed Non-renewal of a Fixed-term Employment Contract in Post-Retirement Re-Employment Due to Failure to Reach an Agreement on Changes to Less Favorable Terms and Conditions
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The Challenges that We Face Today in Dealing with Anti-social Forces and Unfair Demands – Tokuryu (an anonymous, fluid criminal group), shady side-jobs and freelance
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PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment - Japan Chapter
2025.03.19
[Court Case] The Case Denying a Housekeeper who was Working Concurrently as a Home Nursing Caregiver from Being Considered a “Domestic Worker”
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[Court Case] The Case Affirming that Nap Hours when Workers were not Actually Engaged in Work are Working Hours and Denying the Application of the Monthly Flexible Working Hours System
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[Court Case] Validity of Dismissal of a Worker who Blew the Whistle
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Outline of the Freelance Act and Practical Points to Note
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[Court Case] A Case in which the Employer’s Unilateral Relocation Order Despite an Agreement to Limit the Job Type was Determined to be Unlawful
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[Court Case] A Case in which a Reduction of Retirement Allowance Based on Breach of the Post-Termination Non-Competition Clause in the Employment Agreement was Determined to be Valid
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[Court Case] A Case Regarding the Legality of the Assignment and other Conditions upon Return from Childcare Leave Related to the Organizational Change that Occurred during the Leave
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Summary of Issues of Labor Law Practice Regarding Non-competition and Preventing Trade Secrets from Being Taken in or out of the Company (Business Homu, January 2025)
2024.09.18
[Court Case] Obligation to Pay Wages for Non-working Hours due to 'Maternity Harassment'
2024.09.18
[Court Case] The Supreme Court Decision on whether or not the System of Deemed Working Hours Outside the Workplace Applies
2024.09.18
[Court Case] A Case in which the Status as an Employee under the Labor Standards Act was Affirmed with Respect to an Idol Group Member
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[Court Case] A Case in which On-call Hours of a Medical Resident were Denied as Working Hours
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Summary of Major Issues Concerning the Handling of Health Information at the Workplace
2024.07.19
Examination of the “Non-statutory Medical Examination” and the “Employee with Suicidal Thoughts”
2024.07.01
Work-style Reform and the 2024 Logistic Problem
2024.06.20
Business Practice/Hanrei Riview ≪Case Studies≫ Sakai Hikkoshi center Case (The Tachikawa Branch of the Tokyo District Court, August 9, 2023, Rodo Hanrei No.1305, p.5）
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[Court Case] A Case in which a Reassignment Order for the Purpose of Personnel Management was Declared Valid
2024.06.19
[Column] "Personal Information" and "Privacy" that HR Staff Members Should Understand
2023.12.30
Failure Studies on Industrial Health across Multiple Occupations (Yokogawa Electric case)
2023.12.20
[Court Case] A Case in which it was Determined Valid to Refuse Renewal of a Fixed-term Employment Contract that has a Non-renewal Clause Added after Several Renewals
2023.12.20
[Court Case] A Case in which a Dismissal due to Winding-up of the Company was Found Valid
2023.11.24
[Serial Article/Legal Affairs for Companies Expanding Overseas] [No.8] Duties of Companies to their Employees in Overseas Countries During a Crisis Therein and the Response to Such Crisis – From the Perspectives of Governing Law and Duty of Care for Safety
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2023.07.06
Handling of Genetic Information in the Workplace and Practical Actions -- Approach Using Hypothetical Cases Concerning Hereditary Tumors Symposium - From a Lawyer’s Perspective (essay based on the presentation at Symposium No. 3, the Second Academic Congress, The Japan Association of Occupational Health Law)
2023.06.15
Business Practice/Hanrei Riview ≪Case Studies≫ Hagoromo Gakuen (Hagoromo International University) Case (Osaka High Court, January 18, 2023, Rodo Hanrei No.1285, p.18）
2023.06.08
Legal Protection for Freelancers - Legal Protection Laws for Freelancers and Worker Status under the Labour Union Law -
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Introducing Amendments of Major HR and Labor-Related Laws and Regulations
2023.04.21
How to Protect Assets in Relation to Digital Salary Payment - With regard to the Publication of Partial Revision of the "Guideline for Administrative Processes (Vol. 3: Financial Companies)" (Draft) (Dated February 17, 2023)
2022.07.12
Doing Business In... 2022 Trends and Developments
2022.04.27
Addressing Legal Issues Relating to the Resurgence of Covid-19 in China - Focusing on Treatment of Employees and Actions toward Trading Counterparties
2022.04.01
Key Points and Things to Note Regarding the Amended Act on Childcare Leave and Caregiver Leave, Which will be Enforced in Phases from April 1, 2022
2022.03.20
Re-examination of Companies' Actions Regarding the Whistleblower Hotline -- In View of Upcoming Enforcement of the Amended Whistleblower Protection Act
2021.12.20
Journal of management Lawyers Council No. 210 "Report of the 15th Conference for the Yearly Review of Important Court Decisions"
2021.07.14
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2021.05.15
Labor and Competition Legislation concerning Exploitative Acts toward Freelancers
2021.03.01
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2020.11.20
Corporate Compliance on Utilization of External Human Resources - Intersection of Antimonopoly Act and Employment Law
2020.09.07
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Journal of management Lawyers Council No. 203 "Report of the 11th Conference for the Yearly Review of Important Court Decisions"
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2018.03.01
(Selected by Attorneys!) Important Labor Case No. 161: The Case of E, a Medical Corporation (overtime work of an obstetrician)
2018.01.01
(Selected by Attorneys!) Important Labor Case No. 155: The Case of the Harada Gakuen, an Incorporated Educational Institute (validity of an order changing the duties of a personwith visible impairments)
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PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment 2025 - Japan Chapter
2025.06.30
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2025.06.30
Analysis of the Sharp NEC Display Solutions Case, Examining Return-to-Work Assessment Criteria and the Scope of the Court Decision
2025.03.19
PANORAMIC NEXT - Labour & Employment - Japan Chapter
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Outline of the Freelance Act and Practical Points to Note
2024.12.18
[Court Case] A Case Regarding the Legality of the Assignment and other Conditions upon Return from Childcare Leave Related to the Organizational Change that Occurred during the Leave
2024.11.21
Summary of Issues of Labor Law Practice Regarding Non-competition and Preventing Trade Secrets from Being Taken in or out of the Company (Business Homu, January 2025)
2024.07.19
Summary of Major Issues Concerning the Handling of Health Information at the Workplace
2024.07.19
Examination of the “Non-statutory Medical Examination” and the “Employee with Suicidal Thoughts”
2024.05.01
The Impact of the Judgment Rendered by the Third Petty Bench of the Supreme Court on March 26, 2024 on Corporate Practices on the Payment of Pre-retirement Death Allowances
2023.12.30
Failure Studies on Industrial Health across Multiple Occupations (Yokogawa Electric case)
2023.12.30
Background and Challenges to the Promotion of Cancer Screening in the Workplace – Introduction to proper handling of non-statutory health information
2023.11.24
[Serial Article/Legal Affairs for Companies Expanding Overseas] [No.8] Duties of Companies to their Employees in Overseas Countries During a Crisis Therein and the Response to Such Crisis – From the Perspectives of Governing Law and Duty of Care for Safety
2023.07.06
Handling of Genetic Information in the Workplace and Practical Actions -- Approach Using Hypothetical Cases Concerning Hereditary Tumors Symposium - From a Lawyer’s Perspective (essay based on the presentation at Symposium No. 3, the Second Academic Congress, The Japan Association of Occupational Health Law)
2023.04.21
How to Protect Assets in Relation to Digital Salary Payment - With regard to the Publication of Partial Revision of the "Guideline for Administrative Processes (Vol. 3: Financial Companies)" (Draft) (Dated February 17, 2023)
2022.04.01
Key Points and Things to Note Regarding the Amended Act on Childcare Leave and Caregiver Leave, Which will be Enforced in Phases from April 1, 2022
2021.03.01
COVID-19 and Corporate Legal Affairs – Legal Issues during/after COVID-19
2020.11.20
Corporate Compliance on Utilization of External Human Resources - Intersection of Antimonopoly Act and Employment Law
2017.06.01
Lawyers Guide - Labor/Tax edition A Supplementary Volume to Business Law Journal No.113 (August 2017)

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