ABSTRACT
The legal system is a key component of any society, and Japan is no exception to this rule. This chapter aims to analyze the key features and the most heatedly debated issues in Japanese law. After a short historical introduction describing the formation of the modern and contemporary Japanese legal system, the chapter deals with some current problems, both private (divorce, use of the family name, child custody) and constitutional (pacifism, succession of the Imperial Household) law. The chapter also critically addresses the stereotypical representation of Japan as a country with a weak legal consciousness.
