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

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DIGITAL WHITE PAPER

Kindly sponsored by CHANEL

NEW ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Regulation of Counterfeit Advertising and Sales on SNS, as well as Recruitment of Sellers (Illegal “Yami-Baito” Jobs)

    Committee:
    Intellectual Property Rights
    status:
    New

    Recently, investment fraud schemes impersonating celebrities have been spreading on SNS, alongside the recruitment of individuals for criminal activities such as fraud and robbery (so-called "Yami-Baito" illegal jobs), which has become a serious social issue. These recruitment efforts are believed to be led by organized crime groups, including anti-social forces and criminal organizations such as "Tokuryu" (anonymous distribution-based crime groups) and groups of Chinese nationals involved in illegal activities. Given these developments, it is impossible to ignore the connection between counterfeit goods and such crimes. Counterfeit product advertising, sales, and even the recruitment of individuals to sell counterfeits are all actively conducted on SNS.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Syndicated loans

    Committee:
    Banking
    status:
    New

    The increase in overseas investments and acquisitions by Japanese corporates has led to a significant increase in the need for syndicated loans in foreign currencies (primarily US Dollars) and to a challenge for Japanese banks to support this activity given their limited access to non-Yen currencies. Large Japanese banks are therefore advocating for a deregulation of the Money Lending Act (MLA) that would allow foreign banks without a presence or banking license in Japan to participate in non-Yen syndicated loans arranged in Japan, thereby adding liquidity to this market and facilitating the arrangement of such loans. This is currently prohibited under the MLA which only allows participation in such loans to foreign financial institutions with established branches and licenses in Japan. In summer 2024, the FSA launched a Working Group (WG) to discuss this request and released an interim report in early 2025, based on which further discussions are expected. From the standpoint of foreign banks operating in Japan, while such deregulation may benefit those who are strong in the arrangement of syndicated loans by allowing access to a broader pool of potential lenders outside Japan, it may also threaten the level playing field for foreign banks focusing on participation who complied with existing regulations and established a domestic presence and banking licenses in Japan.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Harmonisation of fixed microwave regulation

    Committee:
    Telecommunications Equipment
    status:
    New

    The MIC working group for 6/7 GHz microwave equipment is concluding that the regulation for antennas will be relaxed and will fulfil the ETSI standard of Class 3 and 4 antennas in Japan. This is very important for the users of microwave in 6/7 GHz bands. However, the regulation for interference is very complexed and the requirement for IRF (Interference Reduction Factor) will not be relaxed and a consequence of this there are no microwave short haul products based on ETSI standard available for Japan.

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URGENT ISSUES

No Issue found.

RESOLVED ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Geographical indications

    Committee:
    Liquor
    status:
    Resolved

    The mutual protection of GIs agreed upon through the EU-Japan EPA will ensure protection of geographical indications for 139 liquor products from the EU.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Tariff on wine

    Committee:
    Liquor
    status:
    Resolved

    Tariffs on wine was abolished at the entry into force of the EU-Japan EPA. Japan-US Trade Agreement took into force on 1st January 2020 and tariff of wine will be completely removed in 2025.

  • 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.

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Eurobiz_June2022_cover_HI

Eurobiz Japan

JUNE 2022

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NEWS FEED
  • 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)
  • Japan firm seeks to ease hiring process for foreign truck drivers (Nikkei Asia)
  • Spirits makers eye law to protect “Japanese whisky” brand (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan probes foreigners’ medical insurance use amid misuse concerns (Kyodo News+)
  • Govt Survey Finds Contingency Shelter Equipment, Food Stocks in Japan Inadequate; Plans for Improvements by March 2026 (The Japan News)
  • Japanese banks block withdrawals from expired foreign resident accounts (Japan Today)
  • Japan Shipping Industry Increases Use of LNG Due to Difficulties Developing Next-Generation Fuel, Lower CO2 Emission Than Heavy Oil (The Japan News)
  • METI to Support Firms Impacted by U.S. Tariff Policy; Safety Net for Enterprises to Be Expanded (The Japan News)
  • Japan to make vehicle gas pedal safety devices mandatory in 2028 (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan’s new food supply emergency measures law takes effect (Japan Today)
  • Japan Auto Industry Increasingly Wary of U.S. Tariffs; Effects Will Extend to Large, Small Parts Manufacturers (The Japan New)
  • Japan enforces food supply emergency law amid soaring costs (Kyodo News+)
  • Japan to Tighten Screening of Foreign Investments (News on Japan)
  • Japan Govt Eyes Record of Over ¥20 Trillion for National Resilience Plan to Strengthen Vital Infrastructure Such as Water, Sewage SystemsThe Yomiuri Shimbun (The Japan News)
  • Japan forecast to drop to 45th place by key wealth measure in 2075 (Nikkei Asia)
  • Cruise ships welcome: Japan to help upgrade ports (Nikkei Asia)
  • Japan back-end chip companies form alliance to upgrade supply chain (Nikkei Asia)
  • 3 Japan airports to use unified gates for immigration, customs checks (The Mainichi)
  • Europe’s retreat on environmental reporting eases burden on Japan firms (Nikkei Asia)
  • NEC, Panasonic, other Japanese tech groups to train suppliers on human rights risks (Nikkei Asia)
  • PM Ishida Orders Finalization of National Tourism Plan; 60 Mil. Visitors to Japan Targeted for 2030 (The Japan News)
  • Japan Consortium Sets Targets for Use of Recycled Plastic in New Cars; Aims for Compliance with Draft EU Regulation (The Japan News)
  • Gender Pay Gap Narrows to Record Low (News on Japan)
  • Japan gov’t to support domestic cybersecurity firms (Kyodo News+)

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.