October 23, 2024
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Today, I would like to explain the following matters: (1) Meetings with Experts and (2) Holding of “JFTC Day.”
Meetings with Experts
Meetings with experts have been held in major cities across Japan since 1972. This year, the meetings will be held in 9 cities from November 19 to December 6.
At each meeting, the Commissioners or the Secretary General of the JFTC will exchange opinions with experts such as local business organizations, consumer groups, academics, and press. That aims to provide opportunities for them to deepen their understanding of competition policy, and for the JFTC to learn actual conditions of each region as well as their opinions and proposals to us.
Furthermore, taking advantage of this opportunity for the Commissioners and the Secretary General to visit different regions, we plan to visit local businesses’ factories or facilities to exchange opinions and engage in discussions.
As Prime Minister Ishiba mentioned in his policy speech at the recent extraordinary Diet session, stating that “the regions are the driving force of growth,” the Commissioners and the Secretary General aim to hear firsthand insights from local experts and business operators. By those initiatives, we seek to promote effective and appropriate competition policies that reflect the unique circumstances of each region.
Holding of “JFTC Day”
The JFTC also conducts outreach activities under the name of “JFTC Day” in regions where we do not have offices. These undertakings aim to promote awareness of the Antimonopoly Act and the Subcontract Act, and to provide consultation services for business operators and consumers, making our activities more familiar and accessible to the public.
Each fiscal year, we hold these events in 8 cities across Japan. For the current fiscal year, we have already held one in Morioka City on October 10, and we will hold another in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture, on December 6. Additionally, events are scheduled for Matsue City from November 5 to 8, Hakodate City, Hokkaido and Kyoto City on November 20, Tsu City on December 3, Kagoshima City on December 5, and Tokushima City, with the date yet to be determined.
At the “JFTC Day” event in Takasaki City, we will hold “the Subcontract Act Basic Training Session” to provide participants with foundational knowledge of the Subcontract Act. Moreover, we will conduct “Act on Elimination and Prevention of Involvement in Bid Rigging, etc. and Punishments for Acts by Employees that Harm Fairness of Bidding, etc. Training Session” for those in charge of purchase orders from local governments, etc. Furthermore, we will hold meetings on “the Act on Improvement of Transactions between Freelancers and Undertakings,” which will come into effect on November 1 of this year. Preparations for the enforcement of this new act are currently underway, and promoting awareness and understanding of it is of utmost importance. During the meetings, officials responsible for the act’s promotion will not only explain its provisions but will also carefully highlight its key points.
In addition, some offices hold “Consumer Seminars,” “Antimonopoly Act Lectures,” etc., aimed at providing clear explanations of the Antimonopoly Act and the activities of the JFTC for consumers.
Of the 9 cities where the meetings with experts will be held, we will simultaneously hold the “JFTC Day” in four cities: Hakodate City (Hokkaido), Takasaki City (Gunma Prefecture), Kyoto City, and Kagoshima City. These events will include promotional activities for the Antimonopoly Act and the Subcontract Act, as well as consultation services for business operators and consumers.
The meetings with experts and the “JFTC Day” events are open for media coverage. We warmly encourage members of the press to attend and report on these activities.
Through these meetings and the “JFTC Day” initiatives, the JFTC aims to deepen public understanding of competition policy and its activities, making them more relatable and accessible to everyone.
(Tentative translation)
