Japanese Business Glossary

成年被後見人 (seinen hikōkennin) refers to an adult ward under guardianship in Japan. This legal status is assigned to individuals who are deemed incapable of managing their own affairs due to mental disabilities, illnesses, or other conditions that impair their decision-making abilities.

When a person is designated as seinen hikōkennin, a guardian (後見人 = kōkennin) is appointed by the family court to manage the ward's personal, financial, and legal matters. The guardian's responsibilities can include handling financial transactions, managing property, making medical decisions, and ensuring the overall well-being of the ward.

This system is designed to protect the interests and rights of individuals who cannot fully care for themselves, ensuring they receive proper support and care. The process and requirements for establishing guardianship are governed by Japanese law, specifically the Civil Code and related statutes.

財産目録 (zaisan mokuroku) refers to an inventory of assets. This document provides a detailed list of an individual's or entity's properties, possessions, and financial holdings. The inventory typically includes items such as real estate, bank accounts, investments, personal property, and other valuable assets.

In legal and financial contexts, an inventory of assets is often used for estate planning, inheritance procedures, and bankruptcy cases. It helps in assessing the total value of assets and ensuring proper management and distribution according to legal requirements or personal wishes. The preparation of an inventory of assets involves carefully documenting each asset's details, including its current value, location, and ownership status. This inventory is essential for transparent and accurate handling of financial affairs.

被相続人 (hisōzokunin) refers to a decedent or the deceased person whose assets and estate are subject to inheritance. In the context of Japanese inheritance law, the hisōzokunin is the individual from whom property, assets, and debts are passed on to heirs or beneficiaries after their death.

The process of distributing the estate of the deceased is governed by specific legal procedures, including the identification of heirs, assessment of the estate's value, and settlement of any outstanding debts. The heirs, known as 相続人 (sōzokunin), are typically family members such as the spouse, children, and sometimes parents or siblings, depending on the family structure and legal stipulations.

賄賂 (wairo) refers to a bribe in Japanese. It is the act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting something of value with the intent to influence the actions of an official or other person in a position of authority. Bribery is illegal and considered a serious offense in Japan, as it undermines trust and integrity in public and private sectors.

The term wairo can encompass various forms of improper inducements, such as money, gifts, favors, or services, that are exchanged to gain favorable treatment or decisions. Japanese law has strict regulations and penalties to combat bribery and corruption, aiming to maintain ethical standards and transparency in both government and business practices.

相続割合 (sōzoku wariai) refers to the inheritance share or the proportion of an estate that each heir is entitled to receive under Japanese inheritance law. This ratio determines how the deceased person's assets and liabilities are divided among the heirs.

The distribution of an estate is governed by the Civil Code of Japan, which specifies the legal shares based on the relationship of the heirs to the deceased. For example, if the deceased has a spouse and children, the estate is typically divided with the spouse receiving one-half and the children collectively receiving the other half. If there are no children, parents or siblings may be entitled to a share of the inheritance.

The exact inheritance share can be influenced by factors such as the presence of a will, the number of heirs, and specific agreements among the heirs. In cases where a will exists, the deceased may have specified different proportions, as long as the legal requirements for reserved portions (遺留分 = iryūbun) are met, which ensures that certain close relatives receive a minimum share of the estate.

電子商取引 (denshi shōtorihiki) refers to electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce. This term encompasses all forms of buying and selling goods and services over the internet or other electronic networks. E-commerce includes various types of transactions, such as online retail (business-to-consumer, or B2C), business-to-business (B2B) sales, consumer-to-consumer (C2C) platforms, and consumer-to-business (C2B) models.

Denshi shōtorihiki involves multiple activities, including online marketing, electronic payment processing, order management, and logistics. It has significantly transformed the traditional retail landscape by offering convenience, broader reach, and often lower costs for both businesses and consumers. Common platforms for denshi shōtorihiki include online marketplaces like Amazon and Rakuten, individual e-commerce websites, and social media platforms that facilitate commercial transactions.