The evolving concept of data privacy in Japanese law

Abstract

† How Japan has shaped and evolved the concept of data privacy is examined and how, in this context, it has overcome its culture of respecting the community and the public at the cost of private interests. † The tradition and history of the Japanese culture of privacy is rooted in Bushi-do, which values public interests. After the right to protect private life was judicially recognized in the 1960s, the rapid growth of technology which threatened privacy and personal data led to a new concept of privacy as controlling personal information, as well as to new legislation on protecting personal information.