When evaluating cases involving legal relationships between private individuals with cross-border elements Japanese courts determine which jurisdiction’s law shall be applied to the legal relationship using a set of rules called “Private International Law”. Based on the “Savignian approach” to Private International Law, Japan strives to apply the law that it considers most closely connected to the specific legal relationship. In this context, the so-called Public Policy clause provides a crucial safeguard. If the application of foreign law results in a violation of “public policy and good morals,” this clause enables Japanese judges to exclude the foreign law from application. This presentation will analyze the doctrinal development and practical application of the Public Policy clause, illustrating under which circumstances and conditions Japanese courts invoke it. Details and registration here

Disturbance in microbiome both at human and ecosystemic levels is resulting in serious health and environmental crises. Science and Technology Studies is beginning to analyze how fermented foods and fermentation are becoming a part of the commodified wellness market and a space of critical reflection on modern antibiotic relations. Using the case of tsukemono or Japanese pickles, the modern antibiotic turn and its contemporary probiotic modulation will be analyzed using both historical and ethnographic data. The case of tsukemono offers insights into the challenges of the Anthropocene and its impacts on microbiome that take stock of existing linguistic and cultural heritage. The event will be held in English, admission is free. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A session and a small reception. Details and registration here

From the late Meiji era, the development of a China-based press network functional to the national interest became an integral part of Japan’s imperial agenda. After the defeat of Russia in the 1904-05 war, the Northeast, compared to other regions, offered to Japanese initiative more favorable conditions to achieve a dominant position in the media landscape. One of the most successful enterprises was the government-sponsored Shengjing Shibao, which became the largest newspaper in Fengtian (Shenyang). As a tool of foreign policy, however, press management suffered from the lack of unified decision-making among different agencies. This talk will present a case study to analyse Japanese imperial press policy as representative of the polycentric character of strategic planning in imperial Japan. Details and registration here