AI Legislative Guide |
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Japan |
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(Asia Pacific)
Firm
Nishimura & Asahi
Contributors
Chika Igarashi |
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| Has specific legislation, final regulations or other formal regulatory guidance addressing the use of AI in your jurisdiction been implemented (vs reliance on existing legislation around IP, cyber, data privacy, etc.)? | Yes. |
| Please provide a short summary of the legislation/regulations/guidance and explain how legislators aim to strike the balance between innovation and regulation. |
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| Which agency regulates the use of AI in your jurisdiction? | AI is regulated through a multi-layered ministerial approach rather than a single regulator. The AI Strategy Headquarters (Prime Minister’s Office) sets national AI policy, while MIC and METI issue cross-sector guidelines. Sectoral regulators (e.g., Financial Services Agency; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) apply oversight in their respective domains. |
AI Legislative Guide
Has specific legislation, final regulations or other formal regulatory guidance addressing the use of AI in your jurisdiction been implemented (vs reliance on existing legislation around IP, cyber, data privacy, etc.)?
Yes.
Please provide a short summary of the legislation/regulations/guidance and explain how legislators aim to strike the balance between innovation and regulation.
- AI Act (2025)
Enacted in June 2025, the Artificial Intelligence Related Technology Development and Utilization Promotion Act ("AI Act") is Japan’s first statutory AI framework. Unlike the EU AI Act, it does not impose detailed compliance obligations, but instead functions as a basic framework law.
Key elements include:- Fundamental Principles for safe, trustworthy, and human-centric AI. AI Basic Plan to be formulated and updated by the government.
- AI Strategy Headquarters under the Prime Minister to coordinate cross-government policy and international cooperation.
- Responsibilities of Business Operators (Art. 7): Developers, providers, and users must strive for safe and appropriate AI use, though no punitive sanctions apply.
- Research Institutions: Universities, research bodies, and public institutes are encouraged to align their R&D with ethical and safety principles, collaborate with government and industry, and ensure transparency—reflecting a cooperative rather than punitive model.
- International Outlook: Acknowledges the dominance of foreign AI providers in the Japanese market and anticipates applying the same expectations of safety and accountability to overseas entities serving Japanese users.
- AI Guidelines (2024)
In April 2024, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications ("MIAC") and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry ("METI") issued the AI Guidelines for Business Ver. 1.0 ("AI-GL"), consolidating three prior guidelines. The AI-GL functions as soft law and is subject to continuous stakeholder review.
Structure: (i) Main Part – “Why” (goals) and “What” (initiatives); (ii) Appendix – “How” (practical approaches).
Scope: Guidance for AI developers, providers, and users, with cross-cutting principles applicable across roles.
The AI-GL encourages voluntary, flexible, risk-based governance, serving as the practical complement to the AI Act’s governance framework.
Which agency regulates the use of AI in your jurisdiction?
AI is regulated through a multi-layered ministerial approach rather than a single regulator. The AI Strategy Headquarters (Prime Minister’s Office) sets national AI policy, while MIC and METI issue cross-sector guidelines. Sectoral regulators (e.g., Financial Services Agency; Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) apply oversight in their respective domains.