Prof. Dr. Moritz Bälz (Frankfurt) & Prof. Dr. Christian Förster (Heidelberg) - SS 2015

Blockseminar in Japanese Private Law,  two-day session on 19-20 June 2015 

Full Day Session One: June 19, 2015 - Heidelberg University (information will follow)

Full Day Session Two: June 20, 2015 - Frankfurt University /  9 a.m. - 6 p.m. / Room: RuW 1.101 (Campus Westend)

Organizational Meeting: Please note that the introduction to this seminar will take place on 13 April at 6 PM c.t. in room RuW 2.101.

This seminar, jointly organized by the Professorship for Japanese Law and its Cultural Foundations (Frankfurt University) and by the Professorship for Social Sciences (Cluster “Asia and Europe”, Heidelberg University), covers a broad range of topics in Japanese Private Law. Their common focus is the interplay between Japanese private law and its societal and cultural context. A comparative approach by way of contrasting Japanese Law with another – not necessarily the German – legal system is encouraged. Each student is to present an individual topic during a two-day session on19-20 June. Fellow-up written theses of 15-20 pages are to be handed in within six weeks thereafter. 

Submission of paper: August 03, 2015 at noon in R. 2.130 RuW.

Repeat submission of paper - if failed or with medical certificate only: August 31, 2015 at noon in R. 2.130 RuW.

The course also welcomes law students. This course can be taken either as "Seminar" (Schwerpunkt Internationalisierung und Europäisierung des Rechts") or as course in "fremdsprachliche Rechtskenntnisse" within the Zentrum für Schlüsselqualifikationen.

For further information and registration please see OLAT.

List of suggested topics

1. The principle of “Good Faith” – Historical development, juridical categorization, current function
2. Legal treatment of minors – Protection as privilege or limitation?
3. Pre-contractual duties – Scope and liability
4. Validity and control of standard business terms
5. Protection of privacy – Legal basis and limitations
6. The right to be forgotten
7. Consumer protection - Justification and instruments for the limitation of the freedom of contract.
8. Predatory lending – legislative and judicial counter-measures
9. The rights of tenants – Boon for the weak or bane for the mighty (landlords)?
10. Discharge of debts – Necessity for and regulation of wiping private parties´ slate clean
11. Gender equality in Japanese family law
12. Eugenics and family law in the 20^th century
13. Diversity of divorce – Different legal ways of ending marriage
14. Adult adoption – Repercussions of the „house“ system?
15. Legal status of illegitimate children
16. Surrogate motherhood
17. The right to equal pay – Gender issues at the heart of labor law
18. Termination of employees – Legal prerequisites and potential misuse
19. Employers’ liability for death from overwork
20. The right to strike – Historical background, legal basis, extent and restrictions
21. Employees’ protection against transfer and farming-out
22. Liability for poisonous food
23. Lost and found – Legal and institutional frame for the recovery of lost property
24. Liability for environmental damage – from Minamata to Fukushima
25. Termination of distribution agreements
26. Liability for racial discrimination and hate speech

If you are interested in taking part, please mail to baelz@jur.uni-frankfurt.de stating your preferred topic plus two alternatives. You also may suggest an additional topic for preparation. In any case you will receive a confirmation via e-Mail and further “instructions” at the mandatory organizational meeting.