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

DIGITAL WHITE PAPER

NEW ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Science-Based Sustainability Education for Adults

    Committee:
    Sustainability & Social Responsibility
    status:
    New

    Surveys suggest that public awareness of climate change in Japan is relatively high, and climate denialism is far less prevalent than in some other developed countries. However, this awareness has not translated into widespread behavioral change or strong public pressure for structural reforms. The emphasis on symbolic communication, such as superficial references to the SDGs, risks reinforcing a passive understanding of sustainability across all age groups. There is a particular need to target adults, who hold decision-making power in government, business, and society at large. Given the urgency of the climate and ecological crises, meaningful action cannot wait for future generations to take the lead.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Regulations Against Greenwashing

    Committee:
    Sustainability & Social Responsibility
    status:
    New

    As interest in ESG and sustainability grows in Japan, so does the risk of greenwashing, where companies make misleading claims about the environmental impact of their products, services, or strategies. In the absence of clear legal definitions and active enforcement, misleading claims can persist unchallenged, eroding public trust and confusing both consumers and investors. Civil society groups have raised concerns that the current advertising oversight mechanisms in Japan are not equipped to respond effectively to such issues, with some complaints remaining unanswered for extended periods. This highlights the need for a more robust and transparent regulatory framework.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Consumer Awareness for Sustainable Food

    Committee:
    Sustainability & Social Responsibility
    status:
    New

    Consumer demand for sustainable food products in Japan remains relatively low compared to Europe. Despite growing awareness of environmental issues, sustainability considerations are still limited in everyday food purchasing decisions. This gap is driven by a lack of clear labeling, limited public communication, and weak differentiation in the marketplace.

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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
  • Tokyo Star Bank, GTN to offer foreigners financial services (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan PM Takaichi vows proper management of foreign worker programs (The Mainichi)
  • Japan to safeguard personal financial, genetic data from foreign threats (Nikkei Asia)
  • Govt to Introduce Satellite-Based Advanced Maritime Digital Communication System to Help Detect Suspicious Ships (The Japan News)
  • Japan to Tighten Visa Rules on Foreigners Behind on Health Insurance (News on Japan)
  • Japan to funnel investments in 17 strategic sectors to ignite growth (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan’s Takaichi eyes crackdown on illegal immigration, land purchases (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan to compile measures to address foreigner-related issues in January (Kyodo News+)
  • Takaichi Vows to Build ‘Strong Economy’ via Key Investments (The Japan News)
  • Japan eyes 10,000 self-driving buses, taxis by fiscal 2030 (Nikkei Asia)
  • Nearly 40% of top Japanese companies raise profit estimates amid AI boom (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan auto mechanic job availability up on low birthrate (Kyodo News+)
  • Foreign Automakers Increasing Presence in Japan’s EV Market with Over 50％ Combined Market Share in 1st Half of FY25 (The Japan News)
  • Japan to Tighten Regulations on Mega Solar Power Plants over Nature, Disaster Risk Concerns (The Japan News)
  • European Space Agency opens 1st Asian permanent office in Tokyo (Japan Today)
  • Takaichi Set to Announce Launch of Social Security Reform Panel (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s Auto Industry Faces Fallout from China-Netherlands Chip Clash (News on Japan)Japan’s new PM looks to lift upper limits on overtime hours (The Mainichi)
  • Financial Services Agency Mulls Allowing Banks to Hold Cryptocurrencies; Will Also Discuss Establishing Risk Management Frameworks (The Japan News)
  • IEA cuts outlook for 5-year global growth in offshore wind power (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to hike visa fees to US, Europe levels amid surging tourism (Nikkei Asia)
  • In Japan and beyond, space startups are relying more on government cash (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan’s Hokkaido Spaceport lands on map as international launch site (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan to promote domestic AI development for national security (The Mainichi)
  • Japanese companies employing various strategies to retain college hires (Japan Today)
  • Europe space agency eyes Tokyo office, deeper collaboration with JAXA (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan backpedals on solar panel recycling law, eyes nonbinding guidelines (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan eyes subsidies for companies using renewables, nuclear power (Nikkei Asia)
  • Local authorities step up regulation of mega solar projects in Japan (Japan Today)
  • Japan’s Digital Agency, OpenAI to Collaborate on Development, Use of Gen AI (The Japan News)
  • Japan obliges firms to expand support for employees with preschoolers (Japan Today)
  • 98% of Japan business leaders support accepting more foreign workers: poll (Nikkei Asia)
  • Permanent residency visa revocation law gets guidelines (The Asahi Shimbun)
  • Japan seeks to boost new geothermal power generation (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan to start new foreign trainee program with job flexibility in 2027 (Japan Today)
  • Major Japanese utility to close oil-fired plants as reactors reopen (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan to Pause Work on Public Projects in Summer, as Risk of Heatstroke Rises Ever Higher (The Japan News)
  • Govt Expert Panel’s Report Recommends Exporting Defense Equipment ‘Without Restrictions’ (The Japan News)
  • 3 firms plan to pipe CO₂ under the sea in global warming fight (The Asahi Shimbun)

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.