Established in 1981 under the directorship of Professor Michael K. Young, Fuyo Professor of Japanese Law, the Center for Japanese Legal Studies sponsors and coordinates activities and programs designed to enhance understanding of Japanese law and legal institutions, including curriculum development; lectures, symposia and conferences; individual and collaborative research projects; development of library resources; and the placement of interested students in foreign research, study, and work positions. Students have participated extensively in the Center's research projects, in addition to pursuing their own. The Center is also expanding Columbia's vernacular holdings in Japanese law. Columbia is the repository of the personal library of the late Professor Jiro Tanaka, formerly of the Faculty of Law of the University of Tokyo. The collection of Professor Tanaka, who also served as a member of the Japanese Supreme Court, was gathered over a period of more than fifty years and includes literature relating to Japanese law since the Meiji Period (1868-1912). This collection of over 20,000 volumes has now been substantially augmented and updated by books, case reporters, and periodicals purchased through generous grants from the Toshiba Corporation and the Tokai Bank. The library employs a full-time Japanese law librarian to update and service the collection and to assist researchers. The Center assists students in securing fully funded interim and postgraduate educational and training opportunities in Japan. The Center also awards annually to upper-class J.D. candidates or research associates fellowships in Japanese law that enable the recipients to engage in sustained research throughout the academic year on topics relating to Japanese law.
