Checking the reviews for restaurants is especially helpful, but in Japan some of us live in fear of getting sued for defamation over a bad review. Has it ever actually happened though? Let’s chat about some of the most famous defamation cases in Japan in recent years. 

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com

Frankie - @franklinthewoman

Cheyenne - @lostwithlow

Words mentioned/useful words

転入届  tennyu todoke - moving in form (submitted at city hall)

煽り運転/あおり運転 aori unten - reckless driving, tailgating, road rage

References:

Woman finds man under hotel bed in Tokyo: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZShPFQDBu/

Brazilian female tourist (may she rest in peace): https://essential-japan.com/news/sri-lankan-man-arrested-over-death-of-female-brazilian-tourist-in-japan/

Defamation laws: https://kellywarnerlaw.com/japan-defamation-laws#:~:text=Article%2032%20of%20the%20Criminal,the%20Civil%20Code%20of%20Japan.

Doctors vs google: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20240418-181200/

https://apnews.com/article/google-japan-lawsuit-doctors-33816ddf481345ed5e270898a5a568f0

Restaurant vs Tabelog: https://monolith.law/en/internet/lawsuit-against-tabelog#:~:text=The%20court%20states%20that%20whether,disclosure%20of%20the%20restaurant's%20information

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/26/national/tabelog-online-restaurant-reviews-prompt-food-fight/

Oricon vs journalist: 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/02/08/national/libel-suit-attacks-free-speech-defendant/

https://rsf.org/en/abandonment-claim-against-japanese-journalist

Road rage: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13781526

Tokyo woman wrongly tied to road rage case wins libel lawsuit

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13646256

Shiori Ito vs manga artist

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14492778

Hana Kimura (may she rest in peace) - TW - su*cide 

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14643801#:~:text=THE%20ASSOCIATED%20PRESS,formally%20enacted%20later%20this%20year.

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14353897

Posting Negative Reviews in Japan: What Are the Legal Risks?

https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/u2wLJ7EqoR

Time stamps

00:00 hello/life updates

8:20 man under hotel bed

16:47 defamation

17:14 Doctors sue over bad reviews

21:55 restaurant vs Tabelog

25:18 Oricon vs a freelance journalist 

28:44 Tokyo lady versus politician

32:46 manga artist sued over crude tweets - TW: SA

34:29 online bullying - TW: self exit

43:11  reddit testimonies