The Bill to amend Commercial Code (Transport and Maritime Commerce) of Japan, discussed in our column dated 12 March 2018, was eventually enacted as Act to partially amend Commercial Code and International Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of Japan (Act No. 29 of 2018) on 18 May and promulgated on 25 May 2018. This Act has entered into effect on 1 April 2019. Since promulgation of this Act, preparations to adapt entry into force of this amendment have been made by various interested parties. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (“MLIT”), responsible governmental body of Japan for Marine Transportation Act and Coastal Shipping Business Act, has amended a couple of standard contract terms and conditions to be drafted and publicly announced by the Minister under those Acts; and the Japan Shipping Exchange, Inc. (“JSE”) has revised their several contract forms for domestic shipping. They have made public their amendments and revisions in their respective websites below.
Akiyoshi Ikeyama of our corporation has been involved in the latter revision work in the capacity of a member of Documentary Committee and an adviser to sub-Committee for Revision of Contract Forms for Domestic Shipping to Reflect Amendment of Commercial Code at JSE. We also take this opportunity to update his presentation data to explain outline of the amended Acts as uploaded in the above mentioned column, with his newly prepared English version.
【Websites for Reference】
MLIT (Japanese version)
JSE (Japanese version)
【Presentation by Akiyoshi Ikeyama】
Outline of Act to partially amend Commercial Code and International COGSA（Japanese・English）