On January 13, 2023, Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") proposed a draft of "Guidelines Concerning the Activities of Enterprises, etc. Toward the Realization of a Green Society under the Antimonopoly Act" ("Draft...more
JFTC’s policy to actively promote competition in response to social economics, such as digitalization: Coordinating and strengthening advocacy and enforcement -
On June 16, 2022, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC")...more
On April 8, 2022, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") published the Market Survey Report on Credit Card Transactions ("Report"). The JFTC conducted a survey on credit card transactions in order to ascertain disclosure of...more
On December 27, 2021, the New Capitalism Headquarters at the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan, Consumer Affairs Agency ("CAA"), Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare ("MHLW"), Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI"),...more
On December 23, 2021, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") proposed a draft of Guidelines for Business Collaboration with Startups and Investment in Startups...more
1/10/2022
/ Appraisal Rights ,
Compensation ,
Competition ,
Disclosure ,
Draft Guidance ,
Investors ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
METI ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Public Comment ,
Startups ,
Third-Party ,
Trade Secrets ,
Trading Restrictions
Fumio Kishida was appointed Prime Minister of Japan on October 4, 2021, and the Kishida Administration was formed on the same day. They are aiming to the "New Capitalism" based on the concept of "a virtuous cycle of growth...more
On March 29, 2021, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") issued Guidelines for Business Collaboration with Startups ("Guidelines") for the purpose of promoting open...more
The Competition Policy Research Center ("CPRC") of the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") is seeking comments from the public on a list of proposed issues to be discussed at the Study Group on Competition Policy for Data...more
On December 24, 2020, the Competition Policy Research Center ("CPRC") of the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") announced a list of proposed issues to be discussed at the Study Group on Competition Policy for Data Market...more
On December 22, 2020, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") proposed a draft of cabinet order ("Cabinet Order"), implementing regulations ("Implementing Regulations") and guidelines ("Guidelines")for the Act on...more
On December 23, 2020, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") proposed a draft of Guidelines for Business Collaboration with Startups ("Guidelines") for the purpose of...more
On November 2, 2020, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") proposed amendments to relevant rules ("Drafts") in accordance with the Government of Japan's "Regulatory Reform Implementation Plan" ("Government's Plan")...more
11/12/2020
/ Amended Rules ,
Digital Platforms ,
FinTech ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Mergers ,
Premerger Notifications ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Public Comment ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Resale Price Maintenance (RPM)
During FY 2019, the Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") received 310 notifications, which is a 3.4 percent decrease from FY 2018. It provided clearance for 300 cases at Phase I review. Two cases were sent to Phase II review....more
On June 29, 2020, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) issued a draft of amendments to relevant cabinet orders and rules (“Drafts”) in accordance with the amendments to the Anti-Monopoly Act (“AMA”) previously passed in...more
On June 30, 2020, the JFTC published an interim report about market research on startup business practices (the "Report"). The JFTC will continue its research and will issue a final report. This is part of the effort by the...more
7/11/2020
/ Abuse of Power ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Bargaining Power ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Japan Patent Office ,
JPO ,
METI ,
Startups ,
Status Reports
On June 16, 2020, the Digital Market Competition Council published the “Report on the Medium-Term Vision on Competition in the Digital Market” (“Report.”) The Report discusses the current situation surrounding the digital...more
The JFTC conducted market research ("Research") from April 2019 until March 2020 on online portal sites ("Portal Sites") that review restaurants and bars ("Restaurants") and published a report of its findings on March 18,...more
On February 18, 2020, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") submitted the bill for "Improving Transparency and fairness of the Specified Digital Platforms" (the "Bill") to the Diet. More detailed guidance,...more
On January 28, 2020, a bill for improving transparency and fairness of digital platforms ("Bill") was discussed at the Digital Market Competition Conference ("Digital Conference") of the Cabinet of Japan in preparation of...more
The Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") amended the "Guidelines to Application of the Antimonopoly Act Concerning Review of Business Combination" ("Guidelines") and the "Policies Concerning Procedures of Review of Business...more
2/5/2020
/ Amended Rules ,
Cash Value ,
Conglomerates ,
Digital Assets ,
Digital Platforms ,
Foreign Acquisitions ,
Horizontal Merger Guidelines ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Merger Reviews ,
Mergers ,
New Guidance ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Research and Development ,
Vertical Mergers
The 2019 Amendments to the Anti-Monopoly Act ("Amendments") including revisions to surcharge system (i.e., administrative fine system) will be fully in force within 2020. Accordingly, so-called attorney-client privilege will...more
1/24/2020
/ Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position (ASBP) ,
Administrative Hearings ,
Amended Rules ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Bid Rigging ,
Cartels ,
Data Collection ,
Digital Marketplace ,
Digital Platforms ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Restraint of Trade ,
Secretary Generals ,
Transparency
The Japan Fair Trade Commission ("JFTC") issued "Guidelines Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position in Transactions between Digital Platform Operators and Consumers that Provide Personal Information, etc."...more
The Japan Cabinet proposed the "Approaches to a bill on improving transparency of transactions of digital platform operators (provisional name)" on December 19, 2019 ("Proposal") and is seeking comments from the public until...more
On October 25, 2019, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) announced that it approved a commitment plan proposed by Rakuten, Inc. (“Rakuten”). As a result, the JFTC closed its investigation without finding violation or...more
Big Tech as well as other global companies will likely have to modify their business models -
Japan’s growing e-Commerce market continues to benefit both businesses, which are able to reach more customers and reduce...more
9/16/2019
/ Abuse of Dominance ,
Acquisitions ,
Anti-Monopoly ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Violations ,
B2C ,
Competition ,
Digital Platforms ,
Japan ,
Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
Public Comment