Before you schedule a court reporter or other hearing services in Japan, learn more about the rules and regulations regarding U.S. depositions in Japan. Below is a list of the most common questions. Looking for arbitration services? Visit our arbitration resource page to find out more.
1
Are there any restrictions on holding a U.S. depo in Japan?
Yes
Taking U.S. depositions in Japan is permissible. However, depos must take place at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or the U.S. Consulate in Osaka.
Japan allows video testimony under the same requirements as in-person testimony, with prior notice to the government. Private counsel cannot take video testimony in Japan without permission and a U.S. consular officer present at the embassy or consulate.
Contact us to go over your options for getting the testimony of your witness.
2
Can depos in Japan take place at any venue (hotel, conference room, etc.)?
No
All U.S. depos in Japan must take place at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or the U.S. Consulate in Osaka. You will need to secure a reservation with the Consulate or Embassy and submit a list of all deposition participants and all electronic equipment you will bring.
Contact us to go over your options for getting the testimony of your witness.
3
Does a U.S. passport holder need a visa to enter Japan?
Yes
A Japanese Special Deposition visa is required for attorneys and other relevant personnel (including court reporters, legal videographers, and interpreters) to go to Japan for the purpose of attending a deposition.
4
Are there region-based court reporters for U.S. depositions in Japan?
Yes
Optima Juris has locally based court reporters available for your deposition in Japan.
5
Can Optima Juris help me set up my depo?
Yes
We will take care of all the tricky logistics so you don’t have to stress about the details.
Expert international court reporting services in Japan
Optima Juris has everything you need for a successful deposition or arbitration in Japan. We work with elite court reporters and legal professionals to make sure your deposition or arbitration is in the right hands.
Region-based court reporters
Our trusted court reporters have extensive international experience, along with the know-how to get the job done with the highest-quality results.
Remote Depositions
Videoconferencing and Internet connections are currently not allowed within the US Consulate grounds, but you can conduct a remote deposition by having your witness travel to a nearby deposition-friendly country.
Arbitrations
Optima Juris provides reliable and experienced stenographers for arbitrations in Japan. Remote options are available.
Legal videographers
Legal videographers trained in the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, so you can be sure that your video record will be taken in a manner consistent with your jurisdiction’s requirements.
Interpreters
Internationally-accredited language professionals with deposition experience and unbending standards of quality.
Our experts have created a complimentary guide every lawyer, paralegal and court reporting agency should read. The International Depo Guide for Japan is a 6-page PDF that covers frequently asked questions, tips on how to swear in a witness abroad, best options for deposing a witness remotely, a user-friendly checklist, and travel tips.
Options for attending your deposition or arbitration
Thanks to better Internet connectivity worldwide, many new options have arisen for conducting a deposition or arbitration anywhere in the world. Below is a reference guide of the different options for your deposition or arbitration in Japan.
Attending Deposition In Person
Attorneys, court reporters, legal videographers, witnesses and/or deposition interpreters travel to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or U.S. Consulate in Osaka.*
Advantages:
Typically this an ideal
scenario to get the clearest record and you are less likely to encounter technical issues.
Disadvantages:
Travel costs and consulate fees can add up quickly.
Moving Deposition To Nearby Country
If you are under time constraints and don’t have six weeks ahead of time to plan, moving your deposition outside of Japan to a neighboring country is a good way to expedite.*
Advantages:
U.S. deposition friendly countries like Taiwan are less restrictive than Japan, and can take place at the venue of your choosing, whether that be a hotel, law firm office, conference room, or videoconferencing facility.
Disadvantages:
Some additional travel costs if your witness has to travel to a neighboring country.
Remote/Hybrid Deposition
Attorneys participate remotely. Court reporter, videographer, and interpreter physically present with the witness in a nearby deposition-friendly country.*
Advantages:
Having the court reporter present with the witness is ideal for the clearest record. You can save on travel costs by having the attorneys participate remotely.
Disadvantages: Remote connections can be prone to pauses, interruptions, and/or connection lost due to network issues.
*For the best and clearest record we always recommend that the court reporter, videographer and interpreter be physically present with the witness.
As CEO of Optima Juris, I guarantee that you will be getting the highest quality deposition services abroad. We stand by our services 100% and most importantly, we take away the anxiety of scheduling an international depo.
At Optima Juris we are committed to providing you with the very best deposition services abroad without the stress or hassle. We guarantee that your court reporter and deposition team will show up on-time, where instructed, and that the results (transcript, video, interpretation, etc.) will be at the same level you would expect when conducting a deposition in your home town in the States. If that’s not the case, we’ll refund you fully for the defective service, no questions asked. This guarantee is subject to limitations, exclusions, and conditions as outlined in our terms & conditions.
To provide the best experience, we use cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these cookies will allow us to process data and analyze our traffic. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
TOLL FREE +1.855.678.4628
