Whether you are mediating in Japan or other non-China countries in Asia, or mediating with participants from those areas, you will encounter differences in "context" that will affect both the process & the outcome.  Civil law vs common law jurisdiction, court-ordered vs voluntary mediation, and "high context" vs "low context" cultures of participants will impact your mediation process. Concrete examples will be discussed, along with tips on helping parties in mediation overcome their differing expectations.