![COVID-19: Excusing Performance Using Force Majeure Clauses Under Japanese Law](https://media2.mofo.com/v3/images/blt5775cc69c999c255/blt97db3a6c5f052df9/6273177f0cffdf1eb1369dfd/mofolifesciences-japan.jpg?format=auto&quality=60&width=700)
On April 7, 2020, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declared a state of emergency in response to the spread of COVID19. As a result, an increasing number of businesses are unable to continue operating and are having difficulty performing their contractual obligations. Their business partners may be in a similar situation. In this article, we explore the possibility of exempting or reducing parties’ liability in light of the coronavirus outbreak, using “force majeure” under contracts governed by Japanese law.