#Japan #Tokyo #Freelance Law #Creator Lecture #Contract Guidance

Enhance Your Contract Knowledge: Free Seminar for Creators

The Japan Illustration Association, under a commission from the Agency for Cultural Affairs, is excited to announce the launch of a free seminar titled "Contract Seminars for Creators and Clients". This course is aimed at both freelance creators and businesses that commission works from them. By offering insights into the basics of contracts, copyright laws, and the upcoming Freelance Law set to take effect in November 2024, this seminar is designed to help establish appropriate contract relationships in the creative field.

Background of the Seminar

The Agency for Cultural Affairs has been proactive since 2021, establishing committees to discuss the development of appropriate contract relationships within the arts. By 2022, it released guidelines aimed at fostering better contracts between individual creators and their clients. This seminar is a necessary step to ensure that freelancers and commissioning entities acquire essential knowledge for building equitable contractual relationships.

Who Should Attend?

This seminar is crafted for:

• - Freelance creators involved in visual expression, including illustrators, graphic designers, web designers, and manga artists.
• - Businesses that engage freelance creators.

Seminar Features

• - In-Person Sessions: Taking place in five cities: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Osaka, Nagasaki, and Nagoya.
• - Online Sessions: Offered via Zoom with two separate sessions scheduled.
• - On-Demand Training: Short videos (10-15 minutes) are available for flexible learning.
• - Free Contract Handbook Distribution: Attendees can download or receive a printed version during in-person sessions.

Expert Lecturers

The training will be led by experienced legal professionals:

• - Toshiya Furusho: Partner at Oebashi Law Offices, a licensed attorney in New York, and a patent attorney.
• - Yuichiro Kuwano: Attorney at Tsurumaki Law Office and a consultant for JILLA (Japan Illustration Association).

Educational Materials

The seminar's contract handbook has been collaboratively developed with current creators and legal specialists to offer practical guidance tailored to the realities of creative work. Additional downloadable templates for essential documents related to contracts will also be available.

Downloadable Handbook and Templates

Participants can access:

• - Contract Handbook (e-book)
• - Basic Outsourcing Contract Documents
• - Confirmation of Transaction Conditions
• - Estimates and Order Forms

Upcoming Schedule

1. October 4, 2025: Online Seminar - 15:00 to 17:00
2. October 31, 2025: Tokyo In-Person Seminar - 18:00 to 20:30
3. November 21, 2025: Kanazawa In-Person Seminar - 18:00 to 20:30
4. January 9, 2026: Osaka In-Person Seminar - 18:30 to 21:00
5. January 17, 2026: Nagasaki In-Person Seminar - 16:00 to 18:30
6. February 6, 2026: Nagoya In-Person Seminar - 18:00 to 20:30
7. February 28, 2026: Online Seminar - 14:00 to 16:00

Flexible Learning Options

The seminar also offers an on-demand option for participants to access videos at their convenience, making it easier for busy creators to fit the training into their schedules. A playlist of all works, including separate topics on the Freelance Law, contracts, and copyright, is available for viewing.

Conclusion

This initiative not only signifies a commitment to the development of healthy contractual practices among creators and clients but also exemplifies the Agency for Cultural Affairs' dedication to supporting the arts community in Japan. By participating in this valuable seminar, both freelancers and their commissioning partners stand to gain significant insights that could help protect their rights and facilitate equitable transactions in the creative industry.