Traditional Confucian philosophy holds that it is better to resolve a dispute than fight over it to the end. This philosophy exhibits itself in Japanese civil procedure. Proceedings in both a main action and one for a preliminary injunction typically involve a series of meetings with the judge to narrow the issues and hopefully result in a settlement. Typically such hearings take place every one or two months. The new Code of Civil Procedure will when it comes into effect contain provisions aimed at focussing such meetings more precisely on the issues involved and speeding up the course of this procedure.

 http://www.ladas.com/Litigation/ForeignPatentLitigation/Japan_Patent_Litigation.html

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