The International Civil and Commercial Law Center Foundation (ICCLC) was established to promote the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs legal technical assistance to Asia. The ICCLC has impressive and influential people as its board members. The chairman is the honorary advisor of Sumitomo, Inc., Mr. Tadashi Itoh. The director is an attorney and a former vice minister and public prosecutor general for the Prosecution Division, Mr. Yasutaka Okamura. As a special advisor, we have the chairman of the Keidanren, Mr. Shoichiro Toyota and Emeritus Professor of University of Tokyo and former Minister of Justice, Mr. Akira Mikazuki.
We asked the director of the organization, Mr. Hiroyuki Kaneko, what was the process the ICCLC followed as it was established.

During the 1990s, Asia's socialist countries began to transform their economies into those which were market-oriented. To revitalize their
economies and to make the necessary adjustments necessary to integrate them into the international trade arena, it was necessary to construct a modern legal system based on Western tradition. Thereupon, to accomplish this, Japan was asked by several countries to assist them in constructing new legal systems. Upon receiving these requests, the Japanese government asked the private sector for their cooperation. From the financial community, the government requested that a private organization be created to support the construction of modern legal systems in various countries, especially in Asia. Subsequently, the Foundation was created to facilitate this request.

If a country's legal system has not been well-established or if it lacks the personnel to operate, it could impede its overall financial well-being. In contrast, if the basic legal framework for civil and commercial matters has been put in place, it could serve as a tool for national prosperity.
This would eventually lead to Japan'sincreased prosperity as well.

The current chairman, Mr. Tadashi Itoh of Sumitomo Inc. (President and Chairman) was asked by the Ministry of Justice whether Japan could create a private organization which would provide legal technical assistance from academics, attorneys and in-house legal consultants. Mr. Itoh thought this project should be dealt with by the entire financial community and so consulted others, such as Mr. Shoichiro Toyota for their opinions.

Even the industrial community felt that the construction of a modern legal framework in Asian nations would benefit Japan over the long term.
Subsequently, the project began to take shape in the fall of 1995. It started with an executive office supported by Sumitomo, Inc. On March 28, 1996, we convened a conference for the originators. In April, we commenced business as we were granted the license. In July 1998, we were recognized as a public utility corporation.

There are two people from Sumitomo, Inc. who run the executive office. The project has been proceeding with the wide-ranging participation and cooperation from the Ministry of Justice's Research and Training Institute, academics, attorneys and others from various fields. We are working closely with the legal profession. Therefore, Foundation has many well-known professionals as members. As directors or trustees, we have participation from the financial community and practicing attorneys. As a scientific trustee and a scientific collaborator, we have participants from the academic world.