July 15, 2026
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Today, I would like to introduce two topics. First, I would like to talk about the JFTC’s anniversary of establishment.
JFTC’s Anniversary of Establishment
The JFTC regards July 20, the date on which the Antimonopoly Act came into force, as the anniversary of its establishment. We will soon mark our 79th anniversary.
As this marks an important milestone, I would like to highlight one significant development this year. In April, the JFTC filed a criminal accusation in connection with a price-fixing cartel involving diesel fuel retailers. This was the 20th criminal accusation filed since the JFTC announced its criminal accusation policy in June 1990. As the authority established to enforce the Antimonopoly Act, the JFTC will continue to actively pursue enforcement actions that address issues having a significant impact on people’s lives and that support our efforts to ensure a fair trading environment and promote a competitive market environment.
With regard to ensuring a fair trading environment, we will continue our steady enforcement of the SME Transactions Act and the Act on Ensuring Proper Transactions Involving Specified Entrusted Business Operators (the Freelance Act). We will also actively raise awareness to help businesses update their contracting and payment practices so that they comply with these laws.
Turning to the promotion of a competitive market environment, we consider responding to the rapid progress in the digital society an urgent priority. In this area, we will steadily advance our work, focusing on the effective enforcement of the Mobile Software Competition Act and on identifying and addressing competition issues related to AI.
Next year, the JFTC will reach another important milestone as it marks its 80th anniversary. We will steadily advance these efforts so that the public can gain a renewed understanding of the important role the JFTC plays in supporting Japan’s economic growth and enhancing consumer welfare.
Children’s Kasumigaseki Tour Day
Next, I would like to turn to the second topic: “Children’s Kasumigaseki Tour Day.”
“Children’s Kasumigaseki Tour Day” is an annual initiative in which government ministries and agencies located in and around Kasumigaseki explain their work and offer a variety of exhibits and activities. It is intended to help children learn more about government policies during their summer vacation. This year, the event will be held on July 29 and 30. The JFTC participates in this event every year. Although we relocated our offices from Kasumigaseki to Toranomon at the end of last year, we will once again hold events on both days this year.
The JFTC has prepared two programs for visitors. The first is a program requiring advance registration, in which JFTC staff will introduce the Antimonopoly Act and the work of the JFTC through activities such as a simulated on-site inspection and a demonstration of how deleted digital data can be recovered. The application deadline is today, July 15, so anyone interested is encouraged to apply through the JFTC website.
The second is an exhibition program featuring a video that explains the importance of competition through familiar examples. The JFTC, together with the National Personnel Authority, the Personal Information Protection Commission, and the Food Safety Commission of Japan—all of which are located in Toranomon Alcea Tower—will set up exhibition booths in one location. No advance registration is required for this program. We hope that visitors will feel free to stop by Alcea Tower and learn about the work of these four government agencies.
For inquiries regarding the second topic, please contact the Consumer Education Unit of the Secretariat’s General Affairs Division.
（Tentative translation）
