京都大学 京都大学

ILAS Seminar-E2 :Contracts and Law in Modern Society

Numbering Code U-LAS70 10002 SE50 Year/Term 2022 ・ First semester
Number of Credits 2 Course Type seminar
Target Year Mainly 1st year students Target Student For all majors
Language English Day/Period Mon.5
Instructor name KARAISKOS, Antonios (Graduate School of Law Associate Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course This is an introductory seminar on Japanese and European contract law. The course is organized into the following three parts:
1) Brief overview of the development and characteristics of Japanese and European contract law,
2) Description of Japanese contract law,
3) Presentation of the efforts and steps towards a harmonized European contract law.
Along the way, major relevant cases decided by Japanese courts and by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) will also be discussed.
The goal of this course is for students to acquire a basic knowledge of the structure and content of Japanese and European contract law, and learn about the similarities and differences between these laws. An additional goal is for students to get familiar with comparative law and its methods.
During this course, students will be given the opportunity to actively participate in discussions and exchange of ideas.
Course Goals - Acquiring a basic knowledge of the structure and content of Japanese and European contract law.
- Learning about the similarities and differences between Japanese and European contract law.
- Getting familiar with comparative law and its methods.
- Improving presentation and communication skills in English.
Schedule and Contents 1 General introduction

Part one: Introduction to contract law
2 Characteristics of contract law
3 Development and characteristics of Japanese contract law
4 Development and characteristics of European contract law

Part two: Japanese contract law
5 Formation of contracts
6 Conditions for validity
7 Termination of contracts
8 Remedies
9 Prescription

Part three: The way towards a European contract law
10 United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG)
11 Principles of European Contract Law (PECL) and Draft Common Frame of
Reference (DCFR)
12 Sale of goods
13 Supply of digital content and digital services
14 Online platforms

15 Conclusions
Feedback (the method will be explained later)


Note: In part one, the lecturer will make introductory explanations about each topic using relevant material which will be distributed, followed by discussions with the students. In parts two and three, students will make presentations about each topic, followed by discussions with the lecturer and the other students.
Evaluation Methods and Policy No written examinations will be conducted.
Class attendance and participation: 60%
Oral presentation: 15%
Submission of report paper: 25%
Course Requirements Students must be willing to talk in class, engage with other students and write a report paper in English.
Study outside of Class (preparation and review) - Students are expected to review the content covered in the previous class.
- Students are also recommended to briefly preview the content of the next class. More detailed instructions will be provided in class.
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