“The plushie, which can be attached to a bag or clothing, has glowing eyes and a built-in speaker that plays growling sounds at an adjustable volume…. That robot looks like a cross between Beelzebub and Basil Brush, with shaggy fur,
"Opening Japan’s doors more widely to foreigners could help offset the declines. But the government has long taken a cautious approach to immigration…"
“… and nationalist politicians and commentators have gained influence recently with a ‘Japan First’ agenda. ‘Japan has now reached a level where this kind of decline is not reversible in the short- or medium-run’ said James Raymo, a professor of
Legal Bites March 2026: Monthly Legal Updates
Welcome to the Legal Bites Monthly Legal Updates for March 2026, bringing you a concise roundup of the month’s most important legal, national, and international developments shaping law, governance, and global affairs.March 2026: Key Legal, National, and International
Japan’s Sports Promotion Act
The following is a guest post by Sayuri Umeda, a foreign law specialist who covers Japan and other countries in East and Southeast Asia in the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. Sayuri has
No Spoilers! Japanese Copyright Infringer Receives a Stiff Penalty
As fearsome as Godzilla has proven to be over the decades, the indomitable kaiju may have found its foil in Japanese copyright law. A Tokyo court recently found several individuals guilty of violating Japanese law for publishing spoiler-heavy posts, including
Japan launches financial task force on AI security
It is reported that Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has scheduled a meeting with leaders from Japan’s largest banks and financial institutions, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, and Mizuho Financial Group, to discuss Anthropic’s AI model Mythos,
Japan lifts restrictions on weapon and technology exports
Article: Strategic Philanthropy and Public Philanthropic Intermediaries: A Comparison of Institutional Responses in Singapore, Japan and Australia
Ian Murray (The University of Western Australia Law School), Hang Wu Tang (Singapore Management University – School of Law) and Masayuki Tamaruya (University of Tokyo) recently published, Strategic Philanthropy and Public Philanthropic Intermediaries: A Comparison of Institutional Responses in Singapore
Japan Cabinet approves easing data protection law to promote AI development
Japan’s Cabinet has approved a bill to revise the personal data protection law, easing restrictions on the use of individual information to accelerate the development and adoption of AI technology. The revisions will facilitate companies’ access to personal data while
Japan’s draft “Principle Code” for generative AI: transparency, IP protection and challenges ahead
In December 2025, Japan’s Cabinet Office released a draft framework for public comment entitled “Principle Code on Intellectual Property Protection and Transparency for the Appropriate Utilization of Generative AI” (“Principle Code”). The draft has since drawn the close attention of