ESG - Japan Compliance

Japan Compliance

ESG

A collection of 9 posts

Slide summarizing Japan's legal gaps on LGBTQ+ employment protections, key 2023 court rulings, and corporate best practices for inclusive workplaces

Labor & Employment Law

LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion in Japan: Legal Gaps and Corporate Best Practices

TL;DR Japan still lacks a national anti-discrimination statute protecting LGBTQ+ workers, leaving a patchwork of local rules and case law. U.S. and multinational employers should therefore go beyond legal minimums: add SOGI to internal policies, offer partner benefits, provide gender-neutral facilities, and engage in dialogue-based reasonable accommodation. Recent

Slide showing Japan’s 2025 one-woman-director goal, 2030 30 % target, and governance drivers for board gender diversity

Corporate Governance

Women on Boards in Japan: Corporate Governance as a Catalyst for Gender Diversity

TL;DR Japan’s Corporate Governance Code, new disclosure rules and investor pressure are accelerating female board appointments. Prime-market issuers must have at least one woman director by 2025 and target 30 % by 2030. For US firms in Japan, proactive succession planning and transparent nomination processes are critical to meet

Infographic showing Japan’s three gender-equality pillars (EEOL, childcare-leave reform, Women’s Advancement Act) and key statistics on pay gap, female managers and paternity-leave uptake.

Labor & Employment Law

Deconstructing Japan's Journey Towards Gender Equality in the Workplace

TL;DR Japan’s gender-equality drive rests on three pillars: the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, the Childcare & Family Care Leave Act, and the Women’s Advancement Act. Reforms since 2022 toughen anti-discrimination rules, expand parental-leave rights—especially for men—and force large firms to publish gender-pay gaps. Yet narrow

Slide summarizing Japan’s 2024 CGS Guideline overhaul—board-executive synergy, capital-market expertise, CEO succession planning, offensive governance and human-capital incentives.

Corporate Governance

Strengthening Governance in Japan: Key Takeaways from the Revised CGS Guidelines

TL;DR Japan’s revised METI “CGS Guidelines” shift corporate-governance focus from box-ticking to long-term value creation. Boards must actively supervise strategy, CEO succession and capital allocation while supporting empowered CXO teams. Key updates emphasise preventing “risk of inaction,” bringing in finance-savvy outside directors, evaluating director effectiveness and expanding stock-based

Slide on JFTC draft Green Guidelines: AMA rule-of-reason test for decarbonisation alliances, no blanket exemption, steps for lawful joint R&D, standards and phase-outs.

Competition / Antitrust Law

Green Deals & Antitrust in Japan: How to Structure Decarbonisation Cooperation

TL;DR * Japan’s 2050-carbon-neutral goal drives unprecedented cooperation, yet the Antimonopoly Act still bans hardcore cartels. * JFTC’s draft “Green Guidelines” clarify that most sustainability alliances face the usual rule-of-reason test: necessity, proportionality, and consumer impact. * No blanket green exemption exists—firms must structure joint R&D, purchasing,

Slide highlighting Japan’s 2022 human-rights guidelines: policy, ongoing HRDD, supplier engagement and legal cautions under Subcontract and Antimonopoly Acts.

Human Rights Due Diligence in Japan: Practical Steps for Supply-Chain Compliance

TL;DR * Japan issued non-binding 2022 guidelines aligning with the UN Guiding Principles; all companies in Japan are expected to run continuous human-rights due diligence (HRDD). * Key steps: adopt a board-approved policy, map and prioritise salient risks (overtime, foreign trainees, supplier labour), engage stakeholders, track and disclose progress. * Demands on

Slide summarizing Japan’s 2022 human-rights guidelines: policy commitment, due-diligence cycle, grievance mechanisms, and board oversight requirements.

Integrating Business and Human Rights in Japan: Developing and Implementing a Corporate Human Rights Policy

TL;DR Japan’s 2022 government Guidelines align with the UNGPs and expect companies to publish a board-approved human-rights policy, then run ongoing due diligence. Creating the policy requires cross-functional input, stakeholder dialogue and top-level sign-off; real impact comes from embedding it in supply-chain contracts, training, grievance mechanisms and disclosure.

Slide showing Japan’s JFTC Green Guidelines framework: safe-harbour, rule-of-reason test, 2024 petrochemical case and compliance tips for sustainability alliances.

Competition / Antitrust Law

Sustainability Collaborations in Japan: JFTC “Green Guidelines” & Antitrust Safe Paths

TL;DR * Japan’s JFTC “Green Guidelines” outline when competitor collaboration for decarbonisation is clearly lawful, problematic in principle, or needs a rule-of-reason balance. * A February 2024 petrochemical-complex consultation shows the JFTC will green-light joint infrastructure, R&D and even joint purchasing if market power is limited. * US firms

Summary slide: key Business & Human Rights compliance steps in Japan—policy commitment, risk-based HRDD, stakeholder engagement, grievance mechanism.

Business & Human Rights Compliance in Japan: How to Meet Rising Global Expectations

TL;DR * Japan relies on soft-law guidance such as the 2022 METI/MOFA Guidelines, yet global investors, buyers and regulators increasingly expect robust human-rights due diligence (HRDD). * Aligning with UNGPs, companies should embed a policy commitment, map and prioritise risks, implement HRDD, engage stakeholders and ensure grievance mechanisms. * Ignoring BHR