Event Report: Symposium “Introduction to the CISG, and Practical Applications of UNCITRAL Texts to the Dispute Resolution, together with the Role of the RCAP” was held on January 10 (Sat)

“Introduction to the CISG, and Practical Applications of UNCITRAL Texts to the Dispute Resolution, together with the Role of the RCAP”

【Host】Institute of Comparative Law, Waseda University
【Co-host】　Society of International Business and Legal Studies, International Contract Law Committee of the Japanese Association of International Business Law, Faculty of Law/Graduate School of Law, Waseda University
【Date and Time】　January 10, 2026 (Sat), 13:30‐15:00
【Venue】　Online Symposium via Zoom (No face-to-face event)
https://list-waseda-jp.zoom.us/j/98572329949?pwd=ydDsbn0WEP31ad99kVjQaKd8pXqSkk.1
Meeting ID: 985 7232 9949　Passcode: 495537
【Lecturer】　Athita Komindr, Head, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific (RCAP)
【Language】English (no translation)
【Caretaker】Takashi Kubota (ICL Research Staff/Professor, Waseda University)
Everyone is welcome to attend free of charge.

【Number of Participants】59 (54 graduate and undergraduate students)

This symposium was held as part of the 2025 UNCITRAL ASIA PACIFIC DAYS, following an invitation extended by UNCITRAL to Waseda University.

The symposium commenced with opening remarks from the moderator and co-hosting organizations (Professor Kubota and Mr. Yamaura, Managing Director of International Commercial Law). Then, presentations were made by various presenters. First, Director Komindr made a presentation about a basic overview of UNCITRAL and the Vienna Sales Convention, discussed their relationship with Japan, and explained the e-learning system. Next, Prosecutor Takahashi detailed the progress of the discussion about the online dispute resolution and explained the internship program. Subsequently, Lecturer Shima gave a detailed report on CISG-related court precedents in Japan and moved to the Q&A session.

During the Q&A session, questions were posed to Prosecutor Takahashi by a Japanese practitioner (Mr. Shin Oya) and a researcher (Professor Kubota): (1) How might the significance of arbitration agreements and the law of the seat of arbitration change as disputes increasingly involve parties scattered across the globe due to the advancement of online processes? (Oya), (2) Regarding the scope of acceptable AI arbitration, have specific thresholds been established concerning dispute types, claim amounts, etc.? (Kubota). Prosecutor Takahashi responded that while he shared the questioners’ concerns, these were precisely the issues to be discussed in future Working Group meetings.

The feedback collected from undergraduate and graduate students after the symposium indicated that the majority found the presentations highly interesting both academically and practically, confirming the event’s significant educational impact.

All presentation materials were distributed to participants via Zoom chat.

（Text： Takashi Kubota, ICL Research Staff）