ABSTRACT
The challenges of "codification" may have different meanings depending on whether one speaks of a common law country or of a civil code country. A "Civil Code" in this sense presupposes that every solution to a legal question regarding private law matters can be found within the Code, and without resort to outside legal sources. The economy in the late nineteenth century was largely an agricultural economy and Japanese society was still at the verge of "industrialization". Most importantly, the successful 1980 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) has become a "prototype" for recent contract law reforms. The LC is an advisory organ to the Minister of Justice, and has traditionally been charged with providing advice and guidance to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) regarding its legislative activities in the field of basic civil and criminal laws.
