November 12, 2025
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Intensive Public Outreach Campaign for the Fair Transactions Act
Today, I would like to talk about the implementation of “the Intensive Public Outreach Campaign for the Fair Transactions Act.”
The amended Subcontract Act is scheduled to enter into effect on January 1 next year, following deliberations in the Diet, so that it will be in place in time for next year’s spring labor-management negotiations. Although the period between promulgation and enforcement is relatively short, it is essential for businesses to gain a clear understanding of the Act so that they can use this time to prepare for enforcement and prevent violations before they occur.
The name of the law will also change from the Subcontract Act to the “the Act on Proper Transactions with Small and Medium-Sized Entrusted Business Operators”—abbreviated as the “Fair Transactions Act.” In the period leading up to its enforcement, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) will conduct intensive public outreach on the Fair Transactions Act from November through December, immediately prior to its entry into force.
We have continued to publicize the amendments in close cooperation with relevant organizations such as the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency and the Public Relations Office of the Government of Japan. Our efforts have included holding briefings in all 47 prefectures and engaging in dialogues with industry associations; conducting proactive on-site briefings—known as the On-Site “Toriteki” Meetings—with the support of local chambers of commerce and the National Federation of Small Business Associations; and promoting the amendments through television and radio programs.
During the Intensive Public Outreach Campaign, we will continue to hold these briefings, while also launching a dedicated website that clearly summarizes the amendments to the Fair Transactions Act. In addition, we have produced and released a publicity video and posters inspired by the familiar Japanese folk tale “Momotaro,” making the content easier for the public to understand.
The publicity video consists of a series of 30-second case examples, each illustrating one of the five major amendments to the Fair Transactions Act. In the video, “Momotaro” appears as an entrusting business operator, while the Dog, Monkey, and Pheasant represent small and medium-sized entrusted business operators. The video is available on the dedicated website as well as on the JFTC’s official YouTube channel.
In the folk tale of “Momotaro”, the hero joins forces with the Dog, Monkey, and Pheasant to defeat the demons. In a similar spirit, the amendments reflect the idea that entrusting business operators and small and medium-sized entrusted business operators should engage with each other as equal business partners, without relying on the traditional term “subcontracting.” This publicity video will be used widely—in train advertisements across the Tokyo metropolitan area, television commercials in regional areas, and nationwide social media campaigns—to raise public awareness. The video is also available on the dedicated website.
In addition, posters have been distributed to chambers of commerce and industry associations across the country. Beyond the Intensive Public Outreach Campaign, we will continue to actively engage in public awareness activities, and we would greatly appreciate the continued cooperation of the media in supporting these efforts.
（Tentative translation）
