April 1, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission
New Graduate Recruits of the JFTC as of April 1, 2026
Today, I would like to talk about two topics.
First, I will talk about the new graduate recruits and other officials who joined the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) on April 1, 2026.
As of April 1, a total of 32 new graduate recruits joined the JFTC, comprising 29 at its headquarters and 3 at its regional and other local offices. The breakdown by recruitment category is 8 in the Comprehensive Service and 24 in the General Service. Of these 32 newly hired officials, 18, or more than half, are women. In addition, 12 experienced hires have joined the JFTC.
At the entrance ceremony for the new graduate recruits held this morning, I spoke about the following points:
● As officials of the JFTC, they should not take a passive approach to their work, but should develop the ability to think for themselves.
● Because all work at the JFTC is carried out through teamwork, they should learn to communicate effectively with their supervisors and colleagues.
● Because the JFTC’s work covers all industries and all businesses, they should take an interest in new and diverse matters, remain curious about them, and continue making efforts to improve themselves.
● Because the JFTC is an organization that takes strict measures against businesses when necessary, they should become officials who can exercise self-discipline and humbly listen to the views of those around them.
I have high expectations for the future success of these new recruits.
Change in the Director of the CPRC
Second, I would like to talk about the change in the Director of the Competition Policy Research Center (CPRC).
The CPRC conducts its activities with the aim of developing a functional and sustainable platform for collaboration among external researchers, practitioners, and JFTC officials, in order to strengthen the theoretical foundations for the enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act and for the planning, formulation, and evaluation of competition policy from a medium- to long-term perspective.
Professor Noriaki Matsushima of the Osaka School of International Public Policy, University of Osaka, who has served as Director since April 2020, stepped down from his position on March 31. As of today, Professor Jun Nakabayashi of the Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University, has assumed the position of Director.
Professor Nakabayashi is a leading expert in Japan in the field of bid-rigging data screening, which analyzes bidding data by applying statistical and econometric methods to detect non-competitive conduct by bidders. He has published multiple papers on this subject in internationally renowned academic economics journals.
Under the leadership of the new Director, Professor Nakabayashi, the CPRC will further strengthen the theoretical foundations of competition policy and promote research activities through collaboration among external researchers, practitioners, and JFTC officials.
（Tentative translation）
I have high expectations for the future success of these new recruits.
Change in the Director of the CPRC
Second, I would like to talk about the change in the Director of the Competition Policy Research Center (CPRC).
The CPRC conducts its activities with the aim of developing a functional and sustainable platform for collaboration among external researchers, practitioners, and JFTC officials, in order to strengthen the theoretical foundations for the enforcement of the Antimonopoly Act and for the planning, formulation, and evaluation of competition policy from a medium- to long-term perspective.
Professor Noriaki Matsushima of the Osaka School of International Public Policy, University of Osaka, who has served as Director since April 2020, stepped down from his position on March 31. As of today, Professor Jun Nakabayashi of the Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University, has assumed the position of Director.
Professor Nakabayashi is a leading expert in Japan in the field of bid-rigging data screening, which analyzes bidding data by applying statistical and econometric methods to detect non-competitive conduct by bidders. He has published multiple papers on this subject in internationally renowned academic economics journals.
Under the leadership of the new Director, Professor Nakabayashi, the CPRC will further strengthen the theoretical foundations of competition policy and promote research activities through collaboration among external researchers, practitioners, and JFTC officials.
（Tentative translation）
