SemesterSpring Semester, 2025
DepartmentMA Program of Law, First Year MA Program of Law, Second Year
Course NameIntroduction to Japanese Civil Law
InstructorCHANG YUN-CHI
Credit2.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

1日 導論與簡介:日本民法的歷史



簡要介紹日本法的歷史,重點為介紹日本民法典的制定、結構、母法和修法動向。同時,論及使用英文和英美法的概念來討論大陸法、日本法時會碰到的挑戰。



 



2日 主題一:一般法律原則



介紹日本民法典的一般規則,重點放在第一,民事上的能力(限制行為能力),第二,意思表示和法律行為,第三,濫用權利和違反公序良俗等一般法律原則。



案例研究一:未成年少女在酒店消費,是契約違反公序良俗無效,或因限制行為能力而效力未定?



 



3日 主題二:物權法的一般規則



介紹日本物權法一般規則、時效取得制度、登記制度,重點放在:日本民法第177條之解釋問題。



案例研究二:不動產時效取得和登記



 



4日 主題三:財產和契約



介紹日本法中的合意和契約之瑕疵、簡介債權法修法,以及日本實務類推適用第94條第2項等方式,以保護信賴外觀之第三人,並補強有缺陷的登記制度的做法。



案例研究三:類推適用第94條第2項和登記



 



5日 主題四:侵權行為之1



介紹日本一般侵權行為之基本規則,重點放在學說和判決中對於「權利侵害」要件的解釋論的變化。



案例研究四:錯讀韓國人姓名事件



 



6日 主題五:侵權行為之2



介紹日本民法中損害的概念、生命權侵害時損害賠償之繼承可能性、損害的類型、損害賠償額計算中投影出的構造性不平等。



案例研究五:年輕女孩的餘命損害



 



7日 主題六:侵權行為之3



介紹日本特殊侵權行為的規則、侵權行為能力、少子高齡社會中幼童和高齡者侵權之問題。



案例研究六:JR東海事件中的為他人負責侵權責任



 



8日 主題七:親屬法之1



介紹日本法中的結婚和離婚,重點在於「法定婚姻」和「事實上婚姻(亦稱內緣)」的概念,以及不同類型的事實上婚姻中反映出的新時代和舊時代價值觀之衝突(或可說是自由與多樣性的衝突)。



案例研究七:同性伴侶的事實上婚姻



 



9日 主題八:親屬法之2



介紹日本民法中親子關係的成立、日本父母權威之變化,以及日本親子法的最新修法動向,即2022年民法修正案、2024年日本民法修正案。



案例研究八:婚生推定和無婚生推定子女



 



10日 主題九:繼承法



簡介日本繼承法的規則、無遺囑繼承與有遺囑繼承之關係、遺囑自由與社會習俗之間的衝突、2018年繼承法修法。



案例研究九:以「破毀」來撤銷遺囑



 



Day 1   Orientation and Introduction: History of Japanese Civil Law



Brief history of Japanese Law with a focus on the Japanese Civil Code(JCP): creation, structure, comparative origins, and changes. Also brief comment on the challenges and issues of discussing (and teaching) “Civil Law” in a “Common-law”-oriented language.



 



Day 2   Topic 1: General Rules



Introduction to the general rules of the JCP with a focus on (1) civil capacity (limited capacity), (2) the notion of manifestation of intention and juridical act, and (3) general principles of law such as abuse of rights and violation of public policy



Case Study 1: Nullity by Violation of Public Policy or Annulment by Limited Capacity



 



Day 3   Topic 2: General Rules and Property



Introduction to the prescription system, general rules of property, and the registration system with a focus on the interpretive issues surrounding Article 177 of the JCP.



Case Study 2: Acquisition by Prescription and Registration



 



Day 4   Topic 3: Property and Contracts



Introduction to Vices of Consent and Contracts, Reform of the Law of Obligations (Contract Law), and the balancing of a faulty registration system by the appearances doctrine (Application of Art. 94 (2) by Analogy, etc.)



Case Study 3: Application of Art. 94 (2) by Analogy and Registration



 



Day 5   Topic 4: Torts 1



Introduction to the general rules of tort liability with a focus on changing case law and legal scholarship about the infringement of rights requirement.



Case study 4: Legal interest to have one’s name pronounced correctly



 



Day 6   Topic 5: Torts 2



Introduction to the notion of damages, the possibility of inheritance of damages in case of fatal torts, the types of damages, and the issue surrounding the projection of structural inequalities in the assessment of damages.



Case Study 5: Assessing lost profits for the life of a young female



 



Day 7   Topic 6: Torts 3



Introduction to special rules of tort liability, the notion of tort capacity, and issues related to the liability for children and elderly people in a shrinking-aging society.



Case Study 6: JR Tokai Case (Liability for the act of others)



 



Day 8   Topic 7: Family 1



Introduction to family, marriage and divorce laws in Japan with a focus on the notions of “legal marriage” and “common-law marriage (also termed, de facto marriage)” and the conflicting new and old values (or conflicting freedom and diversity) within the common-law marriage doctrine.



Case Study 7: Same-sex common law marriage



 



Day 9   Topic 8: Family 2



Introduction to the formation of parent-child relations, the changing notion of parental authority and recent changes of the rules on parent-child relations in Japan with a focus on the 2022 amendment and the 2024 amendment of the JCP.



Case Study 8: Presumed-non-presumed child



 



Day 10 Topic 9: Inheritance



Introduction to the law of inheritance with a focus on the relationship between intestate Inheritance and testate Inheritance, the conflict between freedom of will and old customs, and the 2018 inheritance law reform.



          Case Study 9: Revoking a Will by “Destruction”


Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant

代聘


Requirement/Grading

評量方式:課堂參與70%)、期末報告30%



評分標準:



1. 期末報告(30%):修課同學須對某一主題,提出約1500字的期末報告,整理日本、台灣制度的差別,並提出自身心得和分析。



2. 課堂參與度(70%):本課程需要修課同學參與討論,請盡量到課,缺席請假請勿超過2堂,否則無法取得學分。



1. Final Report (30%): Students must submit a final report of approximately 1,500 words on a chosen topic, detailing the differences between Japanese and Taiwanese legal systems and providing personal insights and analysis.



2. Class Participation (70%): Active participation in discussions is required for this course. Attendance is essential, and students are encouraged to attend all classes. Missing more than two sessions (without a valid excuse) will result in failure to earn course credit.



註:修課同學每堂課程花費的預複習時間約2-3小時,上課使用之講義資料預計於2月底之前發放。

Note: Students are expected to spend approximately 2 hours on pre-class / post-class preparation for each session. The lecture materials will  be distributed by the end of February.


Textbook & Reference










教材



1. 上課使用自編教材,並發放日文判決之英譯

2. 不定時介紹深入學習的課外教材



Textbooks and Reading Materials



1. Self-made teaching materials will be used in class, including Japanese court decisions with English translations.

2. Additional materials for further study will be introduced from time to time.



參考資料 References



1. Curtis J Milhaupt, J Mark Ramsyer & Mark D West, The Japanese Legal System-Cases, Codes, and Commentary, 2ed, 2012, Thomson Reuters

2. Luis Pedriza, Lectures on Japanese Law from a Comparative Perspective (English Edition), 2017, Osaka University

3. John Owen Haley, The Spirit of Japanese Law, 1998, Univ of Georgia Pr

4. Hiroyuki Kihara, Tort Law in Japan, 2015, Wolters Kluwer

5. Hiroo Sono, Contract Law in Japan, 2018, Kluwer Law Internationa

6. Satoshi Minamikata, Family and Succession Law in Japan, 3rd edition, 2020



Urls about Course
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