While everyone was whingeing about the horrid new conspiracy law passed in June, the same Diet session also generated other potentially historic legislation: a wholesale amendment to the 120-year-old contract law provisions of the Civil Code.
Expected to take effect in 2020, the changes have been in the works for at least a decade. Law students still have to study the old (current) law because it is on the bar exam.
Perhaps forcing future lawyers to pointlessly remember what the law is today helps distract them from thinking about why the law exists or why it should be changed. Having dealt with contracts involving Japan for over 20 years, I struggle to remember situations when quirks of Japanese law caused problems. I may not be alone: There has been significant grumbling from lawyers and industry groups such as the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) questioning the need for these amendments.