Japanese Business Glossary

The term いずれ (izure) in Japanese can have several meanings depending on the context. Commonly, it means "sooner or later," "eventually," "one of these days," or "sometime." It is often used to express an action or event that is expected to happen at an unspecified future time.

For example, いずれ彼は戻ってくるでしょう means "sooner or later, he will come back. いずれにせよ、もう遅いです translates to "in any case, it's already too late." Another example is いずれ私たちは再会する which means "eventually, we will meet again."

In the context of Japanese business and legal terms, 名義 (meigi) refers to the name or title under which something is registered or owned. It is commonly used to indicate the official or legal ownership of assets, properties, bank accounts, and other entities.

For example, when you open a bank account, the account will be under a specific meigi (name). Similarly, when registering a company, the ownership and responsibilities are tied to the meigi of the person or entity officially listed.

In summary, meigi is crucial in identifying the legal owner or responsible party in various formal and legal matters.

併合 (heigo) means "merger" or "consolidation" in Japanese. In a business context, it refers to the combining of two or more companies into a single entity. This process can involve the consolidation of assets, liabilities, and operations to create a more efficient and competitive business structure.

持ち株会社 (mochikabu gaisha) refers to a holding company in Japan. A holding company primarily owns shares in other companies rather than producing goods or services itself. The main purpose of a holding company is to control the management and operations of the companies in which it holds shares.

A holding company owns significant portions of shares in other companies, granting it control over their management and policies. It does not engage directly in the operations of its subsidiaries but influences their strategic decisions.

There are several advantages to holding companies. They help in risk management by holding shares in various companies, thus diversifying investments and reducing overall risk. There can be tax benefits due to the structuring of investments and earnings across different subsidiaries. Holding companies also allow for streamlined and centralized management of multiple businesses.

In Japan, the establishment and operation of holding companies are regulated to ensure fair competition and compliance with financial laws. Holding companies facilitate long-term strategic planning and investments in multiple sectors.

商法 (shoho) refers to the Commercial Code of Japan, a comprehensive legal framework governing commercial transactions and business operations in the country. The Commercial Code covers a wide range of topics, including company formation and organization, commercial transactions, corporate governance, insolvency and bankruptcy, and securities and financial instruments. It establishes rules for establishing and organizing various types of companies, such as joint-stock companies (株式会社, Kabushiki Kaisha), regulates buying, selling, and other commercial dealings, and provides guidelines on the management and oversight of companies, including the roles and responsibilities of directors and shareholders. It also includes procedures for dealing with financial distress and the winding up of companies, and rules concerning the issuance and trading of stocks, bonds, and other financial instruments. The Commercial Code is essential for anyone doing business in Japan, as it provides the legal foundation for commercial activities and ensures that business practices are conducted fairly and transparently.

循環型社会 (jyunkan-gata shakai) translates to "circular society" in English. It refers to a sustainable society that aims to minimize waste and make the most of resources by reusing, recycling, and recovering materials. The concept is rooted in the idea of creating a closed-loop system where products and materials are continuously cycled back into use, reducing the need for new resources and minimizing environmental impact.

In a jyunkan-gata shakai, emphasis is placed on reducing waste by designing products that last longer, can be easily repaired, and are made from recyclable materials. It encourages the use of second-hand goods and the refurbishment of products to extend their life cycle. Recycling materials effectively and processing them to be used again in the production of new items is another key aspect. Additionally, it involves recovering energy by utilizing waste that cannot be recycled, such as through incineration with energy recovery.

Japan has been actively promoting the development of a jyunkan-gata shakai through various policies, regulations, and initiatives aimed at sustainable resource management and environmental protection.