1. What is the legal framework governing bribery in Japan?
(i) The Criminal Code (the CC):
- The CC is the key legislation
governing bribery. It applies to the bribery of public officials
(komuin) (Article 197 and 198 of the CC).
(ii) The Unfair Competition Prevention Act (the UCPA):
- The UCPA regulates the corruption of
a foreign public official and prohibits the giving, offering or
other types of bribery to foreign public officials (Article 18 of
the UCPA).
(iii) The Companies Act (the CA):
- Under the CA, a director or an
officer etc. of a company who receives a property benefit based on
an unlawful request in connection with his or her duty shall be
punished (Crime of the Giving or Acceptance of a Bribe in relation
to the Duties of a Director. Article 967 of the CA).
