Anyone involved in government affairs and its legal matters a few decades ago tended to face the same reaction from the authorities: "That's impossible!" "Really?" one wonders, but the authorities' explanation always makes logical sense, given the framework or the mindset in which they operate. After all, they drafted and enforced the regulations, and they should know better than us.

That was decades ago, and many things are supposed to have changed over time in Japan, thanks to reforms, deregulations, etc. of all these years. Well, not necessarily. The laws and regulations which govern the Japanese society form a powerful framework, or mindset, to which stakeholders must adhere to. Anything not fitting nicely with the mindset is outside the realm of recognition, and prompts one to declare "That's impossible!"

This is, however, not a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. It is expression of cognitive dissonance, embedded in human nature. To navigate the Japanese regulatory terrain, as elsewhere, you need to analyze their current mindset, and most important in this process is, needless to say, to understand the underlying laws and regulations. KitamuraLaw's task is to chart a right pathway and to deliver your goal in a most professional manner. For example, we do not opine on the basis of a single contact with the authorities. Instead, we review written documents including internal documents, reference previous cases, and, if necessary, double-check with more than one officials.

KitamuraLaw has pioneered in Japan's regulatory/government practice since 1992, and continues to provide its unique service to international clients. The focus of its practice lies in life sciences, telecommunications, media, high-technology industries and export control. Our mission is to provide an unparalleled high-quality legal service on regulatory/commercial issues in Japan.