Japan

On April 1, 2026 amendments to the Industrial Safety and Health Act (ISHA) took effect as outlined below. Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Protections for Independent Contractors Background Traditionally, the ISHA was premised on the existence of an employment relationship, under which employers’ statutory safety and health obligations applied mainly to employees under labor contracts. However, an employer’s responsibility with respect to independent contractors was unclear. This gap was highlighted by a 2021 Supreme Court decision involving construction asbestos litigation, which held that the Act’s protective purpose extends beyond a formal employment relationship to individuals working at the same site without a labor contract. ISHA Amendments Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, the ISHA was amended to expand safety and health obligations as follows: Expanded Scope in Certain Industries In sectors such as construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing, parties placing orders for work are now required to: Coordinate operations across different tasks, Plan and issue instructions for each task, and Take measures to prevent industrial accidents during mixed operations. These obligations now apply not only to multiple business operators but also to independent contractors and other non‑employee workers engaged at the same site. General Cross-Industry Scope Regardless of industry, business operators that manage workplaces where employees and independent contractors work together must: Implement safety and health measures that account for both groups, and Ensure coordination between the operator’s own activities and those of contractors. Mental Health Stress Checks to Become Mandatory for Small‑Business Employers Under the IHSA amendments, mental health stress checks, which were previously recommended on a best‑efforts basis, will become mandatory for employers with fewer than 50 employees under the amendments. The effective date will be set by cabinet order within three years of promulgation, with implementation expected by around 2028 at the latest. Enhanced Workplace Safety Measures Targeting Older Workers[1] Initiatives to prevent workplace accidents among older workers are being introduced, requiring employers to make efforts to improve work environments and processes as well as take other necessary measures to support older workers. While the release schedule has not been confirmed, guidelines outlining specific obligations are currently being drafted. Measures under consideration include introducing assistive devices to compensate for declining physical abilities, monitoring health conditions such as by ensuring employees are attending their regular health checkups and by checking their physical fitness, as well as reducing working hours and night‑shift frequency.       [1] While the ISHA does provide for a specific definition of older workers, the guidelines broadly assume older workers to be those who are 60 years of age or older.

Introduction On January 7, 2026, the Subcommittee on Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions of the Council on Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions published its “Report on the Appropriate Framework for the Inward Direct Investment Screening System” (the “Report”). When the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (the “FEFTA”) was amended in 2019 (effective May 8, 2020), a supplementary provision was included stipulating that, if deemed necessary in light of how the amended provisions had been implemented in the five years since such amended Act came into effect, such provisions would be reviewed, and appropriate measures taken based on the results of such review. Published five years after the 2019 amendments took effect, the Report examines the framework of the inward direct investment screening system and sets out the direction for its review, from the perspective of balancing two important policy objectives: further promoting inward direct investment that contributes to the sound development of Japan’s economy and ensuring economic security in an environment where the scope of national security considerations increasingly encompasses the economic sphere. This newsletter summarizes the key proposed reforms to the inward direct investment screening system set out in the Report, focusing on those matters with the most significant practical implications for foreign investors.   View original article here. [Author] Oki Osawa (Partner) Mayuko Takamura Tatsuyoshi Kitani

Introduction Based on the instructions issued by Prime Minister Takaichi at the Meeting of Relevant Cabinet Ministers on November 4, 2025, regarding “the appropriate use and management of national land, including the framework for rules on land acquisition,”[1] public comment procedures have been initiated to amend relevant cabinet and ministerial ordinances to introduce mandatory nationality reporting and related requirements in connection with real estate transactions. This article provides an overview of the proposed amendments to related laws and regulations.   View original article here.   [Author] Eiji Miyagi (Partner) [1] Meeting of Relevant Ministers on Accepting Foreign Nationals and Realization of an Orderly Coexistence Society “On Realization of an Orderly Coexistence Society with Foreign Nationals (Prime Minister’s Instruction)” (https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/gaikokujinzai/kakuryokaigi/dai1/sorishiji.pdf)

Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; “AMT”) is pleased to announce the establishment of its Paris office, further strengthening its European presence and enhancing its ability to support clients in France and across Europe. For nearly two decades, AMT has maintained close relationships with leading law firms in France through regular secondments and professional exchanges. In collaboration with local counsel, the firm has advised clients on a wide range of French-related matters, including M&A, joint ventures, corporate establishments and investments, financial transactions, employment law, and dispute resolution. The opening of the Paris office marks a significant milestone in the firm’s long-standing commitment to the French market. The Paris office operates as an associated office with MTS Law Office, founded in Paris by Manami Toyota Sirvent, an attorney qualified in Japan and France. Ms. Toyota obtained her French legal qualification in December 2021 and has been practicing French law in Paris since May 2022. Through this association, AMT is able to offer seamless, integrated legal support covering Japanese law, French law, and EU law. This enables the firm to advise Japanese companies engaged in business expansion, M&A, investments, and disputes in France, as well as French companies considering business operations, M&A, or investments in Japan. AMT has continued to enhance its European capabilities with the opening of its London office in September 2022 and its Brussels office in April 2024. The establishment of the Paris office further reinforces the firm’s ability to deliver high-quality, cross-border legal services tailored to the needs of its international clients. The firm remains committed to meeting the evolving needs of its clients and to continuously enhancing the scope and quality of its legal services. ■ MTS Law Office ― Overview Registered Name:       MTS Law Office in association with Anderson Mori & Tomotsune (The office name is currently pending approval from the Paris Bar) Representative:           Manami Toyota Sirvent, an attorney qualified in Japan and France Address:                      11 Boulevard de Sébastopol, 75001 Paris, France Tel:                               +33 (0)6 44 92 87 38   ■ Comment from Manami Toyota Sirvent, Managing Attorney, MTS Law Office Paris has long served as a strategic hub for business expansion in Europe. In recent years, with the opening of Station F, one of the world’s largest startup campuses, and the annual hosting of Viva Technology, a major international technology event, the city has played a central role in shaping one of the world’s leading startup ecosystems. Through our Paris office, we are committed to providing prompt and highly sophisticated legal services, grounded in deep local expertise, to clients seeking to enter or expand in the European market.   Manami Toyota Sirvent ― Career Mar 2005                     The University of Tokyo (B.A. in Sociology) Mar 2008                     Waseda Law School (J.D.) Apr 2008 - Mar 2009  The Legal Training and Research Institute of the Supreme Court of Japan Dec 2012 - Dec 2013  Associated with McDermott Will & Emery, Paris Office Jul 2016                         Université Paris-Panthéon-Assas, Diplômes supérieurs d’université (Business and Company Law) Dec 2016 - Mar 2018     Worked for Legal Department of a major Japanese trading company Apr 2022 - Present        Practiced French law in Paris   Press Contact Anderson Mori & Tomotsune Publicity & Marketing Committee Address: Otemachi Park Building, 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Tel: 03-6775-1001 (9:30-17:30) Contact form　https://contactus.amt-law.com/en/public-relations/