In March 2007, sixteen student delegates traveled on our Spring Break Trip to Japan 2007, which we hold every two years. Trip participants visited key legal, financial, and political institutions in Japan, along with healthy doses of Japanese culture. Governmental sites included the Ministry of Justice, Fuchū Prison, the Supreme Court of Japan, Tokyo District Court, and the Bank of Japan. The visit to Fuchū Prison offered a rare glimpse into the Japanese criminal justice system that few international legal practitioners get to see. Two of the largest law firms in Japan, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu and Mori Hamada & Matsumoto, were kind enough to host us. Our visits to these Japanese firms and to the international firm Paul Hastings permitted us to learn about the details of domestic and international legal practice in Japan.

On the cultural side, we ate fresh sushi at Tsukiji Fish Market and toured the University of Tokyo. On the weekends and holidays, trip participants traveled to diverse locations throughout Japan including Kyoto and Hakone.

The trip planning is spearheaded by our 2L and 3L board members, along with the generous time and energy of active Japanese alumni of the Law School who help arrange the trip. Our alumni liaisons provide us with insiders’ views on law and policymaking in Japan.