Hostile bid subverts Japanese politeness Oji Paper's bid for rival Hokuetsu breaches a Japanese taboo on hostile takeovers. It has also prompted some extraordinary, perhaps illogical, defence tactics. Is this the shape of things to come?
Japanese corporates look abroad for growth Japanese outbound M&A is reaching levels not seen since the 1980s as corporates seek to consolidate their stronger positions
Large shareholders much obliged Corporate scandals have forced Japan to tighten reporting obligations for large shareholdings. But it might have gone too far. By Hirohito Akagami and Atsutoshi Maeda of Anderson Mori & Tomotsune
Financial products regulation revamped Akio Kawamura of Asahi Koma Law Offices explains how Japan's new financial instruments law will affect foreign corporations
Japan offers more vehicle options Koji Kawamura, Takafumi Uematsu and Fumiko Oikawa of Atsumi & Partners discuss the effects of Japan's corporate law revamp on securitization transactions
Acquisition finance thrives in Japan Softbank's ¥1.28 trillion in acquisition finance for its takeover of Vodafone's Japan operations proves that large acquisition finance transactions can be structured under Japanese law, say Naoaki Eguchi and David Deck of Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Law Office
Banking on climate change A new law grapples with trading emissions. By Hideo Ohta, Rieko Mashima and Kana Itabashi of Baker & McKenzie GJBJ Tokyo Aoyama Aoki Law Office
Dowa Model threatens shareholder rights Akimitsu Kamori of Blakemore & Mitsuki analyses the Dowa Model and outlines measures to enforce takeover defences
Spotlight on business trusts Proposed changes to Japan's Trust Law provide more trust structuring opportunities. By Motohiro Yanagawa and Ohki Mizuno of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Japanese management buyouts: an overview Management buyouts are becoming more common in Japan, and bring a whole new set of issues with them. Kayo Takigawa and Mikiharu Mori of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu explain
Takeover regulations amended again Tomohiko Iwasaki of Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu says the recent amendments to Japan's takeover regulations are the most substantial yet
Legal flexibility allows for simple structures Japanese companies now have a wider range of corporate structuring options, meaning simpler governance at lower costs. By Takanobu Takehara and Takafumi Nihei of Nishimura & Partners
Japan's securities regulations: following in US footsteps? Adam Wiseberg and Kei Ito of Nishimura & Partners compare Japan's new securities law with its US counterpart, contemplating what would happen if US federal securities law applied
J-Reits five years on J-Reits have come a long way since the first was listed in 2001. Naosuke Fujita and Noriko Sakai of O'Melveny & Myers Gaikokuho Kyodojigyo Horitsujimusho assess the market and identify strategies for growth
The goda kaisha and the Cayman SPV The Cayman Islands exempted company continues to play an integral role in the Japanese structured finance market after the introduction of the godo kaisha. John Rogers of Walkers and Skip Hashimoto of Walkers SPV Limited explain