TL;DR * Long-term exclusivity and post-contract non-competes in Japan’s talent-agency deals face growing Antimonopoly Act (AMA) scrutiny. * JFTC investigations and the 2019 “idol-group” warning signalled that black-listing and excessive restrictions may breach Abuse-of-Superior-Bargaining-Position (ASBP) rules. * Agencies must justify contract length, avoid retaliatory conduct and embrace clearer, proportionate terms before

TL;DR * Japan’s Antimonopoly Act polices unfair B2B conduct via the Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position (ASBP) rule. * In the 2023 Osaka High Court “Oshigami” case, a distributor failed to prove a publisher’s refusal to cut excess newspaper copies was unjust—the court accepted the publisher’s business

TL;DR * Japan lacks a single franchise statute, so antitrust rules—especially the Antimonopoly Act’s Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position (ASBP)—govern fairness. * A 2023 Tokyo District Court injunction shows franchisors may not undermine franchisees’ “reasonable territorial expectations,” even if not in the contract. * US franchisors must draft clear

TL;DR * Japan’s news ecosystem now depends heavily on a handful of digital platforms, creating bargaining-power imbalances and new antitrust risks. * The JFTC’s 2023 market study flags low licence fees, self-preferencing and opaque algorithms as potential Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position or unfair trade practices. * Publishers may pursue

TL;DR * Japan’s JFTC now treats passive refusal to discuss cost hikes—or rejecting supplier price-rise requests without reasons—as potential Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position. * Both the Antimonopoly Act and the Subcontract Act have been re-interpreted through new guidelines, large-scale surveys and public “naming and shaming.” * Buyers should

TL;DR: Since 2018 Japan’s Antimonopoly Act lets the JFTC close investigations through negotiated commitment procedures. Usage has surged—especially against tech platforms—because it delivers faster remedies without formal violation findings. A 2024 Tokyo court case and new JFTC monitoring rules signal tougher oversight, so global firms should