FG experience with arbitration in Japan

[Mulboyne]

This FG has been through the chotei process. I'll look out for his follow-up and post it later.

Asahi: My first brush with Japan's arbitration system
Compared to overseas, lawsuits are not very common in Japan. Instead, most legal disagreements here are settled by means of arbitrated hearings known as chotei. At a chotei each party gives its version of events to a board of arbitrators (chotei-in), who then propose a solution. Their proposal is not binding, but the two parties more often than not abide by it, thus avoiding the considerable time and money that an actual trial would incur. Now, you might think that since such hearings are quick and convenient, the average Japanese would avail himself or herself of them frequently. But such is not the case...more...

[Socratesabroad]

Just a note: I believe there was a post some time ago to another (or possibly the same) FG who went through the arbitration process in Japan. I'll be damned if I can't find it on this site or through google. The article was good, though (may have been via the ACCJ site, but memory fails).

[gomichild]

There is a Journal feature with something to do about this:

http://www.accj.or.jp/content/offerings/pub/journal


Direct download of article

[Socratesabroad]

That was the exact story I was talking about, GC.

Cheers for the links

[gomichild]

no worries mate. always pleased to get a few more hits for the ol' site.

[Mulboyne]

I'll look out for his follow-up and post it later.

Well, I had planned to post the follow-up but Asahi haven't bothered to put it up on their site. It was in yesterday's print edition. Rather than leave you in suspense, I can reveal that the writer got the arbitration to agree that the woman should compensate him but they came up with the figure of 10,000 yen when his bike cost 170,000 yen. He declined the offer, considered more formal legal action but then gave it up as a bad lot.