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FEATURED NEWS

EBC Survey on the Business Impact of Japan’s Evolving Policies Affecting Foreign Nationals

Europe vs North America Golf 2026

Statement by the European Business Council in Japan and Japan Business Council in Europe on the EU-Japan Digital Partnership – 4 May 2026

Tax Roundtable – 17 April 2026

Cybersecurity Conference – EBC Digital Committee, 7 April 2026

EBC Event: The Future of the Automotive Industry – 3 April, 2026

Events Calendar

UPDATES

DIGITAL WHITE PAPER

NEW ISSUES

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    Cybersecurity

    Committee:
    Railways
    status:
    New

    In Both the EU and Japan are strengthening cybersecurity in the railway sector as rail systems become increasingly digital and connected. In the EU, ERA and ENISA are working together on railway cybersecurity, including the implementation of NIS2 and cybersecurity requirements for railway systems.In Japan, cybersecurity is also recognised as part of railway safety and information-security policy, with MLIT responsible for railway-sector measures. Greater EU-Japan cooperation and information exchange could help promote common approaches and standards for railway cybersecurity.

  • 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.

  • published_date_iconPublished:

    PFAS regulation alignment

    Committee:
    Materials
    status:
    New

    PFAS restrictions are becoming a major issue for surface treatment, plating and specialty chemicals. As various authorities are looking at how to lessen the impact of “forever chemicals” and to make certain that the use is safe, the EBC would like to highlight the need for greater alignment between the EU and Japan. Differences in definitions, regulatory approaches, restrictions, exemptions and assessment requirements could increase compliance costs and create unnecessary barriers for companies operating across both markets. At the same time, regulatory measures should take into account the different functions and applications of PFAS, as well as the availability and suitability of alternatives.

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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

VIEW ARCHIVE

NEWS FEED
  • Japan to compile emergency cybersecurity package by next week: Takaichi (The Mainichi)
  • Japanese Government Rushes to Establish Bilateral Consultations with Like-Minded Nations for Times of Crisis (The Japan News)
  • Industries with Dual-Use Technology to Get Government Help; Japan Aims to Boost Economy, Prepare for Contingencies (The Japan News)
  • Japan weighs registry to strengthen monitoring of foreign interference (Kyodo News)
  • World’s 1st hydrogen engine for large ships cuts CO2 emissions by 95% (Kyodo News)
  • Hiring of Foreign Drivers in Japan Spreading in Logistics Industry, Aim to Cope with Worker Shortage (The Japan News)
  • Japan to overhaul tax-free shopping for foreign visitors to curb resale (The Mainichi)
  • EU Incentive Scheme Unlikely to Cover Japanese-Made EVs after Franco-German Agreement (The Japan News)
  • Japan Govt Panel to Discuss Strengthening Cyber Defense of Telecom Carriers (The Japan News)
  • Japan Govt Publishes English-Language Booklet on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Economic Policies (The Japan News)
  • Efforts to Bolster Japan’s Production of Next-Generation Solar Cells Are Powering Up (The Japan News)
  • Japan business manager visa holders leaving without reentry permits surge (Kyodo News)
  • Japan mulls including railways in defense-related expenditure: sources (Kyodo News)
  • Japan Seeks to Ensure Stable Supply of Critical Medical Devices (The Japan News)
  • Defense Ministry to Study Development of Small Rocket That Will Quickly Launch Replacement for Damaged Satellites (The Japan News)
  • Japan’s Government Considers Introduction of Nuclear-Powered Submarines in SDF (The Japan News)
  • IEA to accelerate oil reserve release, says 100 million barrels still to come (Japan Today)
  • Japan remains 12th in global innovation ranking, trails South Korea, China (Kyodo News)
  • Japan Eyes Autonomous Transport Ships for SDF (The Japan News)
  • Japan to set up greenhouse gas data hub to help curb global warming (The Mainichi)
  • Japan toughens guidelines for granting permanent residency (The Mainichi)
  • Japan to Devise Action Plan for High-Performance AI by Year-End (The Japan News)
  • Legislation Related to Active Cyber Defense Takes Effect, Police and SDF Allowed to Neutralize Servers behind Cyberattacks (The Japan News)
  • Steel Transshipment Countermeasures Planned by Japan, U.S., European Nations (The Japan News)
  • Kansai airport eyes more int’l flights, resume India, Indonesia routes (Kyodo News)
  • Japan’s disaster management agency to be launched Nov. 2 (The Mainichi)
  • Japan to Introduce 6 ‘Bodyguard’ Satellites by FY35 (The Japan News)
  • Calls to return-to-office grow as some shift to a hybrid style (Asahi Shimbun)
  • Defense Ministry to launch new system for incorporating startup tech (Japan Today)
  • Japan mulls 52,000 unmanned systems target in 5-year defense buildup (Japan Today)

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 200 of the over 2,500 affiliated local European companies and individuals participate directly in one or more of the EBC’s 24 industry committees covering a wide variety of economic sectors.