ロゴ:一般社団法人 日本商事仲裁協会 JCAA

About JCAA

A Message from JCAA

Shinsuke Kitagawa, President

President

Shinsuke Kitagawa
President

The Japan Commercial Arbitration Association (JCAA) was originally established in 1950 as the International Commercial Arbitration Committee of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Shortly thereafter, it became an independent institution in 1953. The JCAA is now the leading private arbitral institution in Japan offering commercial arbitration and mediation services in accordance with applicable national laws and international treaties.

The JCAA has a longstanding history of administering arbitration and mediation cases and educating the Japanese business community about effective dispute avoidance and resolution. Our mission is to promote and develop both domestic and international arbitration and mediation and ensure that our procedures align with global best practices.

In Japan, the public and private sectors are actively collaborating with each other to enhance the use of international arbitration. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are taking important initiatives to foster stakeholder cooperation. Several legal reforms including amendments to the Foreign Lawyers Act, and more recently, the Arbitration Act, have been enacted to make Japan a more arbitration-friendly jurisdiction.

The JCAA is also promoting the use of online arbitration and has expanded the scope of application of expedited arbitration procedures to enhance cost savings and convenience for local and international users. Moreover, the JCAA is striving to promote awareness about the benefits of arbitration and the potential advantages of choosing Japan as the seat of arbitration. Our efforts towards quicker and efficient dispute settlement extend to all business companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, which are increasingly engaging in international transactions.

Aside from its ADR services, the JCAA also serves the public by providing issuing and guaranteeing services of ATA Carnets. As another pillar of our business, the ATA Carnet is being widely used by those involved in international trade. There is also a global movement to digitalize the said system.

As the global economy recovers and grows, the JCAA expects the use of the ATA Carnet to continue to grow. To improve service efficiency, the JCAA has introduced an online application system and shortened the issuance period. The JCAA will continue to strive to ensure that our services are efficient and reliable so that we can deliver the best experience for our clients.

The JCAA remains dedicated to providing essential ADR and other services that meet the highest standards of satisfaction.

Your trust and support are invaluable to us. We are sincerely grateful for your continued cooperation and support.

Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Chief Arbitration and Mediation Officer

Chief Arbitration and Mediation Officer

Kazuhiko Yamamoto
Chief Arbitration and Mediation Officer

The JCAA is firmly committed to time-efficient and cost-effective dispute resolution to meet the diverse needs of the business world.

The JCAA administers arbitral proceedings under three sets of arbitration rules to allow parties to choose the type of arbitration most suitable to their needs and preferences.

The first is the “Commercial Arbitration Rules,” which aspire to ensure smooth proceedings by providing comprehensive provisions to address potential procedural issues that may arise from differences in understanding among the arbitrators, parties and their counsel. The second is the “Interactive Arbitration Rules,” which aim to increase predictability of the proceedings with the mandatory disclosure of the arbitral tribunal’s non-binding preliminary views and the fixed-rate remuneration of arbitrators calculated based on the amount of the claims. The third is the “UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules” created by the United Nations and which can serve as the basis for the JCAA’s administrative support services.

Arbitral awards are enforceable in almost all of the countries around the world under the New York Convention. Furthermore, the amended Arbitration Act of Japan, which took effect from 1 April 2024, now ensures that interim measures issued by the arbitral tribunal are enforceable in Japan. Additionally, a party may submit for enforcement an arbitral award without a Japanese translation if the court finds it appropriate. These amendments enhance the efficiency of arbitration in Japan.

Mediation is another viable method of dispute resolution. Successful mediation can settle the dispute more flexibly, quickly and at a lower cost. The JCAA Commercial Mediation Rules (2024) can provide businesses with a reasonable way to achieve successful mediation.

On 1 April 2024, the Singapore Mediation Convention and the amended ADR Act of Japan took effect in Japan making settlement agreements arising from a JCAA-administered mediation enforceable in Japan if the parties have agreed to such enforcement.

The JCAA strongly recommends including arbitration and/or mediation clauses in contracts as these methods of resolving commercial disputes are faster and more effective compared to litigation.

External Supporting Lawyers

Miriam Rose Ivan L. Pereira

Miriam Rose Ivan L. Pereira
Public Relations Officer

Miriam Rose Ivan L. Pereira, Public Relations Officer

The JCAA has a long track record of administering arbitration and mediation cases in Japan. With the growing awareness, familiarity and preference for alternative dispute resolution (“ADR”) methods, the JCAA is primed to be the go-to dispute resolution center in Japan for enterprises of all sizes, local and foreign.
I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to play a part in promoting the ADR services of the JCAA together with the cooperation and support of the various stakeholders.

Tony Andriotis

Tony Andriotis
Professional & Institutional Relations Officer

Tony Andriotis, Professional & Institutional Relations Officer

Japan has a solid and internationally well respected legal system, a stable political system, and an incredible infrastructure; all elements that make Japan an ideal seat for the settlement of international disputes. I am thus extremely grateful to have been approached by the JCAA to assist them in their further growth and internationalization.

Akiko Yamakawa

Akiko Yamakawa
Public Relations Officer

Akiko Yamakawa, Public Relations Officer

The JCAA is Japan’s leading arbitration institution with a long history and solid track record. Japan is also very attractive as the seat of arbitration, with a world class arbitration law, great infrastructure and wonderful food. I hope many global firms will consider choosing JCAA arbitration in Japan as the forum to resolve international commercial disputes. I am very excited to join the effort to promote the JCAA.

* The external Supporting Lawyers provide support to the JCAA on a part-time basis and continue to work full-time at their respective law firms. They will not be involved in the JCAA's case administration and will be kept isolated from information thereof. They serve as Public Relations Officer/ Professional & Institutional Relations Officer of the JCAA solely in their individual capacity, and not as lawyers or representatives of their respective law firms.

* Former Officer Hiroko Nihei, Attorney at Law, resigned as public relations officer at the expiration of her term from October 2, 2019 to September 30, 2021.