Abstract

The Japanese legal system is an original blend of eastern tradition and western influence, starting from Confucian origins, receving a continental-european imprinting in the XIX century and finally being influenced by the USA-common law in the the post-war time. Starting from these historical back-ground, a recent analysis describes the different branches of the Japanese law now in force. In the field of constitutional law, special attention is paid to the art. 9 of the postwar constitution, outlawing war as a means to settle international disputes. After the Fukushima disaster, the environmental protection received a strong impulse through numerous legal measures concerning emissions to air and water, environmental impact assessments, contaminated land, waste etc.