Product Safety and Liability Law in Japan : From Minamata to Mad Cows

Developing insights from a number of disciplines and with a details analysis of legislation, case law and academic theory, Product Safety and Liability Law in Japan contributes significantly to the understanding of contemporary Japan, its consumers and its law. It is also of practical use to all professionals exposed to product liability regimes evolving in Japan and other major economies. "Contesting the early culturalist view, which depicted Japan in the thrall of weak consumerism and legal consciousness, this book follows the evolution of its product liability regime, focusing specifically on the Product Liability Law of 1994. Japanese product liability law and practice are reassessed in a truly global context. Japan's system is compared with that in the European Union and Australia, and contrasted with the US model. This also allows for a balanced appraisal of related topical issues in Japan, such as the outbreak to 'mad cow disease' and the government's commitment to improve access to courts." "Developing insights from a number of disciplines and with a detailed analysis of legislation, case law and academic theory, Product Safety and Liability Law in Japan contributes significantly to the understanding to contemporary Japan, its consumers and its law. It is also of practical use to all professionals exposed to product liability regimes evolving in Japan and other major economies."--BOOK JACKET Book Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 4 Contents......Page 5 List of illustrations......Page 9 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 15 'Re-orienting' Japan and its law......Page 18 The still-birth and re-birth of product liability in Japan......Page 40 Comparing the PL Law with other 'strict liability' regimes in Europe, Australia and the US......Page 87 The PL Law in action......Page 171 The future of PL in Japan: reformulation, reform and re-regulation......Page 219 Translation of Japan's PL Law......Page 230 Annotated translation of PL Law Case No. 10 (McDonald's Orange Juice')......Page 232 PL Law cases filed, 1995 2001......Page 240 All PL suits filed, 1990 2001......Page 246 PL ADR Centres......Page 268 Notes......Page 272 Bibliography......Page 291 Index......Page 321 This volume contests the culturalist view of Japan as being in the thrall of weak legal consciousness and consumerism, which has persisted in the wake of environmental disasters such as the mercury poisonings in Minamata in the 1950s.