‘Traction’ or ‘Turbulence’ in Japanese Regulatory Style? - An Empirical Analysis of Japanese Commercial Law Reform since the 1990s

一项大规模的法律改革计划正在从根本上重塑日本的商法制度。但这项改革将通向何方？许多评论人士预测，这部法律将“牵引力”为“日式”的非正式治理体系或“美国式”的透明事后监管体系。相比之下，这个项目假设的是一个更“动荡”的法律改革过程--一个复杂、冲突、不可预测和持续的过程。该项目针对日本自20世纪90年代以来的商法改革浪潮，对这一假设进行了实证检验，旨在开发一个日本法律和监管改革的模型。这一模式对于寻求了解和应对日本不断变化的商业和法律环境的澳大利亚政策制定者、商界领袖和法律顾问具有重要的战略意义。

A massive program of law reform is fundamentally reconfiguring Japan's commercial law regime. But where will this reform lead? Many commentators predict the law's 'traction' to either a 'Japanese-style' system of informal governance or an 'American-style' system of transparent ex-post regulation. In contrast, this project hypothesises a more 'turbulent' process of law reform - one that is complex, conflicting, unpredictable and ongoing. Empirically testing this hypothesis against Japan's wave of commercial law reforms since the 1990s, this project aims to develop a model of legal and regulatory change in Japan. This model is of strategic importance for Australian policy-makers, business-leaders and legal advisors seeking to understand and respond to Japan's changing business and legal environment.