FEATURED NEWS

Public Comment on the Long-Term Decarbonisation Auction Scheme and Support Framework for Offshore Wind

Public Comments on Cabotage Rules Affecting Offshore Wind Developments

EBC Automotive Components Committee event, 18 March

Recommendations for Policy Reform to Streamline Expense Settlement in Japan

PRESS RELEASE: European Business Council Welcomes Reforms to Foreign Lawyer Registration Rules in Japan

The Sustainability Imperative: Decarbonization & Nature Restoration for a Resilient Future (September 12)

Events Calendar

UPDATES

  •     From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, As we approach the halfway point of the year, the EBC continues to actively engage in a wide range of events and initiatives that support European businesses in Japan. From high-level diplomatic for

    Author ImageYoko
    28 May, 2025

  •     From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, I hope this message finds you well. This past week has been an exciting one for the European Business Council, marked by new partnerships, meaningful exchanges, and cooperation across sectors. Here&

    Author ImageYoko
    21 May, 2025

  •   From the EBC Dear Friends of the EBC, I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable Golden Week. As spring moves into full swing, we’re pleased to share a few recent updates and highlights from the EBC’s activities. From addressing key trade concern

    Author ImageYoko
    14 May, 2025

  • Author ImageYoko
    30 April, 2025

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DIGITAL WHITE PAPER

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NEW ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Streamline expense settlement

    Committee:
    Tax
    status:
    New

    Japan has made significant strides in digital transformation, particularly through the adoption of cashless payments and secure data systems. Cashless payments and tamperproof systems, along with sensible rules on expense processing eliminated the need for receipts in a large portion of employee expense claims. However, the introduction of the Qualified Invoice System in October 2023 has inadvertently complicated expense claim processing by newly requiring receipts for almost all transactions, even for small cashless payments. Previously, companies could rely on electronic transaction data from credit card companies for expense claims without needing receipts.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Pillar Two model rules for domestic implementation of a global minimum tax

    Committee:
    Tax
    status:
    New

    The rules and guidance published by the OECD define the scope and set out the mechanism for the so-called Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) rules under Pillar Two, which will introduce a global minimum corporate tax rate set at 15%. The GloBE rules provide for a co-ordinated system of taxation intended to ensure large MNE groups pay this minimum level of tax on income arising in each of the jurisdictions in which they operate.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Environment Product Declaration (EPD)

    Committee:
    Materials
    status:
    New

    LCAs and EPDs are becoming more common both as suppliers are disclosing the information as part of their transparency efforts and as buyers are requesting this to fulfil their environmental goals and requirement. In the EU, some standards, such as EN 15804+A4 for the construction related materials, and platforms for EPD, such as Environdec, are being used. In Japan we have Ecoleaf. As more and more data are being covered by LCA and EPD it is important that there is harmonisation between various systems to avoid that additional costs. This can become significant considering the number of products of a given company. It should be mentioned that some collaboration already exists. Usage of Product Category Rules (PCR) should be promoted and harmonised to reduce the efforts on EPDs of products within the same category. The EU is slightly more advanced/ahead in the efforts due to the already started implementation of CBAM.

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URGENT ISSUES

No Issue found.

RESOLVED ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Temporary in-activation of gaiben licence

    Committee:
    Legal Services
    status:
    Resolved

    With the increased use of secondments within the legal services field, it is not uncommon that registered gaiben temporarily leave Japan and then come back to again practise foreign law in Japan. For a domestic lawyer it is possible to either (1) continue paying their bar membership fees while remaining on the bar rolls with their original registration number or (2) stop paying fees whilst temporarily suspending their license only to re-activate it when returning to Japan through a simple application process. This is not possible for a gaiben. The only thing possible for a gaiben is to re-apply from scratch. The EBC sees no reason for this blatant discrimination of foreign lawyers.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Branches

    Committee:
    Legal Services
    status:
    Resolved

    Legislation was finally passed in 2014, permitting a gaiben law firm to incorporate  as a hojin, and thereby become eligible to open more than one branch. However, the 2014 legislation did not permit gaiben and bengoshi together to establish a hojin. The effect is to severely limit the usefulness of the 2014 legislation. We understand that the changes in the Act to permit gaiben and bengoshi to establish a hojin together have been enacted and we await confirmation that the changes have been implemented by no later than September 2020.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Malt and quota management system

    Committee:
    Food & Agriculture
    status:
    Resolved

    Japan had a tariff quota system for malt even from before the EPA, which introduced a quota for EU origin malt. However, only companies manufacturing beer themselves or importing exclusively for the use of a particular brewery were allowed to apply for a quota, discriminating against traders wishing to import on their own account for selling to multiple customers in small volumes or on short notice. Following multi-year efforts by the EBC and the EU, this was remedied in late 2021, opening the door to importers to provide for a large variety of EU-origin malts even in smaller quantities for the flourishing craft beer market, and for non-brewery users.  However, an administrative burden remains, which is unreasonable considering the quota is not fully utilized and all eligible quota applications are being granted.

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Eurobiz_June2022_cover_HI

Eurobiz Japan

JUNE 2022

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NEWS FEED
  • Japan enacts law obliging firms to join CO2 emissions trading scheme (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to introduce US-style online visitor entry system in FY2028 (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan eyes 17 eligible sectors under new foreign labor training plan (The Mainichi)
  • Japan plans to launch pilot fusion power plant next decade (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan to launch prescreening of visa-free travelers in FY 2028 (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to partly introduce biofuel-mixed gasoline for autos in FY 2028 (The Mainichi)
  • Japan rolls out fuel subsidy for hydrogen trucks (Nikkei Asia)
  • Security Clearance System Starts; Hopes Rise for Expanded Participation in International Business and Research (The Japan News)
  • Most female execs doubt Japan will hit 30% goal for women in top jobs (Japan Today)
  • Japan mulls expanding industries eligible for foreign skilled workers (Kyodo News+)
  • Consumption Tax Exemption to Be Nixed for Low-Cost Imported Items; Measure Eyed with Chinese E-Commerce Sites in Mind (The Japan News)
  • Japan Eyes Creating Think Tank to Analyze Economic Security; Tokyo Hopes to Boost Cooperation with Like-Minded Countries (The Japan News)
  • Japan Aims to Double Cybersecurity Specialists by 2030; Govt Set to Relax Requirements for Certification (The Japan News)
  • Over-the-counter drugs to be available at convenience stores in Japan (The Mainichi)
  • Japan sets 5-year goal of 1% annual real wage growth via investment (The Mainichi)
  • Japan eyes skilled worker visas for waste, warehouse management (Nikkei Asia)
  • Govt Enhancing System to Lure Workers in Big Companies to Smaller Regional Firms; Revitalization Plan for Regional Areas Taking Steps Forward (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s gold standard health insurance system at politicization risk (Japan Today)
  • Japan, EU reaffirm collaboration in maintaining global free trade (The Mainichi)
  • Japan considers joining EU’s $100bn science research initiative (Nikkei Asia)
  • BOJ to launch its own survey on wage hikes (Japan Today)
  • Japan to begin surveying for natural hydrogen deposits (Nikkei Asia)
  • 40% of Japan prefectures offer financial aid over U.S. tariffs: poll (Japan Today)
  • Mizuho Bank, Kubota Form Tie-Up for Greenhouse Gas Trading; Aims to Reduce Emissions (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions fall 4% in FY23/24 to record low (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan Accelerates Financial Assistance for Businesses; Working to Handle Growing Concerns Over Tariffs (The Japan News)
  • Japanese ESTA Advances to FY ’28 Implementation; Target Moves 2 Years Ahead of Previous Plan (The Japan News)
  • Japan gov’t mulls tougher penalties for illicit bank account trade, new telecom data rules (The Mainichi)
  • Japan to Assist in Achieving International Standardization for Specialist Areas; Solar, Sectors Include Solar, Hydrogen Technologies (The Japan News)
  • Narita airport expansion gears up for ‘second opening’ in 2029 (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan seeks efficient use of official development aid with law change (Kyodo News+)
  • Japanese Govt, Firms Plan to Develop Next-Generation Geothermal System; Public-Private Sector Council Launched (The Japan News)
  • Hokkaido Gas Enters Wind Power with Hybrid Plant (News on Japan)
  • Nara to Start CO2 Reduction Effort Targeting Household Emissions (News on Japan)
  • Japan eyes world first producing hydrogen using heat from reactor (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Study: Women advance but men still in charge of city planning (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Gas-fired power plant capacity to jump 20% in 2030, led by Asia (Nikkei Asia)
  • Incoming Japan business lobby chief surprises with priorities (Nikkei Asia)

Join & Support

EBC members can not only learn about important changes taking place in Japan, but also play a critical role in influencing change themselves.

Some 300 of the over 2,500 affiliated local European companies and individuals participate directly in one or more of the EBC’s 22 industry committees covering a wide variety of economic sectors.