Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu | View firm profile
I. Introduction
The digitalization of civil litigation procedures in Japan began with the introduction of teleconferencing and video conferencing systems under the 2010 amendment of the Code of Civil Procedure. The use of teleconference had become widely adopted, enabling parties or their representatives located far from the courts to participate in preparatory proceedings to arrange issues and evidence.
However, many aspects of civil litigation in Japan have yet to be modernized. For instance:
･ as a general requirement, paper documents must be lodged in order to file a lawsuit;
･ parties and their representatives are required to physically attend dates for oral arguments; and
･ court records are kept in paper form and people who wish to inspect the records are required to visit the courthouse.
These days, where information and communication technology has advanced significantly, the digitalization of civil litigation is being promoted to make civil litigation more efficient and accessible to parties. This article provides an overview of the recent changes relating to the digitalization of civil litigation in Japan that are being introduced through the enactment of further amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure.
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Author: Hiroki Tajima, Partner