Competition/Antitrust Law

Since the founding of our firm in 1902, we have been serving clients in a wide variety of industries and with a wide range of business models. In competition and antitrust law, we provide both Japanese and overseas clients with full-service support, including advice on day-to-day issues, compliance and internal controls, training for directors and employees, antitrust review of M&A and business collaborations, internal investigations, leniency, and dealing with regulatory inspections and investigations.
  • Responding to Investigations
  • Business Combinations
  • Advice on Doing Business
  • Subcontract Act

Responding to Investigations

The importance of competition law has increased dramatically, as authorities in Japan and other countries have strengthened enforcement.




Leveraging our experience, we take prompt and accurate measures to avoid and mitigate administrative penalties in investigations by authorities in Japan and other countries. We advise on dealing with governmental inspections and investigations, and represent clients in litigation to revoke sanctions. In cases of bid-rigging and cartels, we represent clients in applications for leniency to obtain exemption from financial penalties. In cases of private monopoly and abuse of superior bargaining position, we represent clients in applications to avoid sanctions by offering to make a commitment to change business methods.




We also represent clients when alleged competition law violations lead to lawsuits seeking injunctions or damages, including shareholder derivative suits, and provide advice when alleged violations lead to issues in dealing with shareholders, suppliers, customers and the media, as well as employee disciplinary procedures. In international antitrust and competition law cases, we collaborate with foreign law firms to negotiate with the authorities in the relevant countries.

Business Combinations

For clients studying potential business combinations, as well as for clients who have decided to carry them out, we provide essential advice on the necessity of JFTC filings, and represent our clients in JFTC procedures and in negotiations with the JFTC. Our advice extends to the full range of applicable competition and antitrust laws, including "gun-jumping" rules, and is provided in accordance with the client's objectives and deal schedule. We have analyzed and assessed competition law risk in a wide range of business combinations and in many industries, and provided legal opinions.




For issues under competition law regulations in other countries, we leverage our strong network of foreign law firms to confirm whether regulatory filings are necessary and arrange for the drafting and submission of any required documentation and filings.

Advice on Doing Business

In many business activities, including business alliances, planning for sales channels, participation in tenders, and licensing technology, it is essential to keep competition law in mind, and deal with it strategically. We advise businesses in many industries on points to consider when entering into a business alliance, setting terms and conditions in a vertical agreement, participating in a bidding procedure or making a competitive quote, and setting terms and conditions for licensing of technology.




We also provide extensive support for the establishment and operation of compliance programs, including drafting internal rules and manuals for competition law, and hold seminars for directors and employees.

Subcontract Act

Recently, the enforcement of the Subcontract Act has been strengthened as part of a policy to protect SMEs, and as a result it has become more important than ever to pay attention to it.




The Subcontract Act is often formalistic, and is different from the abuse of superior bargaining position doctrine found in antitrust law. As a result it is often violated unexpectedly. In many kinds of transactions we advise on avoiding Subcontract Act violation, carry out training for directors and employees, and support the establishment of internal controls and drafting of internal rules. In the event of a suspected violation, we conduct a prompt investigation and assist with a leniency application if necessary. When our clients are investigated by a government agency, we negotiate with the authorities strategically to avoid a formal warning, leveraging our experience with many cases of Subcontract Act violations.

Publications Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202604

    JFTC releases Version 2.0 of its Report on the Current State of Generative AI

    Publisher：CODE by SHOJIHOMU

    Author：
    MATSUHASHI Sho　
  • 202603

    The JFTC publishes the "Guidelines Concerning Abuse of Superior Bargaining Position under the Antimonopoly Act," proposed amendments to logistics special designations, and a proposal for a new special designation titled "Specific Unfair Trade Practices Co

    Publisher：CODE by SHOJIHOMU

    Author：
    KUNIMOTO Kazuki　
  • 202603

    [Antitrust Law Case Update] Case in which a non-competitor business was found to be in violation - JR Tokai Overpass Case (JFTC Order, December 19, 2025)

    Publisher： Jurist, April 2026 issue (No. 1621)

    Author：
    ISHIKAWA Teppei　
  • 202512

    On the JFTC's "Basic Concepts of the Antimonopoly Act in Business Initiatives Related to Economic Security" and "Collection of Cases on Economic Security and the Antimonopoly Act"

    Publisher：Shoji Homu Portal website

    Author：
    NAITO Yuki　

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Lectures, Seminars and Conferences Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202604

    "The Freelance Act: Risk Management from the Perspectives of Enforcement Authorities and Labor Management -- A Discussion with a Former Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission"

    Date：2026.04.21

    Speaker： FURUYA Kazuyuki　 FUJIWARA Hiroki　 ISHIKAWA Teppei　 NAKANO Masayuki　 FUKUCHI Takumi　 TOYOOKA Hiroto　 ICHIKAWA Kazuki　

  • 202511

    Background and outlook of the "Act Against Delay in Payment of Fees, etc. to Small and Medium-sized Entrusted Business Operators in Manufacturing and Other Specified Fields"　(revised from Subcontracting Act) - Interview with Former Fair Trade Commission Chairman Furuya

    Date：2025.12.17

    Speaker： FURUYA Kazuyuki　 OKUSHI Kenichi　 ISHIKAWA Teppei　

  • 202511

    "Key Points of Revision of the Subcontract Law(Act on Ensuring Proper Transactions Involving Specified Entrusted Business Operators): Based on the finalized operational standards and public comments"

    Date：2025.12.02

    Speaker： OKUSHI Kenichi　 ISHIKAWA Teppei　

  • 202510

    "Practical Issues in Applications for Surcharge Reduction or Exemption"

    Speaker： ISHIKAWA Teppei　

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News Related to Competition /Antitrust Law

  • 202604

    The April 25 Nikkei carries an interview article with Furuya Kazuyuki "Allowing Price Pass-Through by Reforming Business Practices Detrimental to SMEsーFormer JFTC Chairman Furuya Kazuyuki"

    Publisher: The April 25 Nikkei (online edition)

  • 202604

    34 lawyers of our firm were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2027.

    34 of our lawyers were recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan 2027.

    Best Lawyers
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    IZUMI Atsushi
    KARASAWA Akira
    ISHIKAWA Teppei

    ■ Banking and Finance Law
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    SAKAMOTO Tomoko
    MATSUDA Takao

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    MOTOMURA Takeshi

    ■ Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
    YAMADA Kohei

    ■ Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    TAGO Shinya
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    URANAKA Hirotaka

    ■ International Arbitration
    UENISHI Takuya

    ■ International Business Transactions
    MATSUDA Akira

    ■ Litigation
    WAKABAYASHI Shigeo
    TOJI Yoshihiro
    MOTOMURA Takeshi
    YOSHIHARA Tomomichi
    URANAKA Hirotaka
    UENISHI Takuya

    ■ Privacy and Data Security Law
    MATSUDA Akira
    BEPPU Fumiya

    ■ Tax Law
    MUTOU Yuuki

    ■ Telecommunications Law
    MATSUDA Akira


    Best Lawyers - "Ones to Watch"
    ■ Antitrust / Competition Law
    OKAMURA Yu
    MATSUHASHI Sho

    ■ Arbitration and Mediation
    NAKAMURA Saeko
    MIURA Takashi

    ■ Corporate and Mergers and Acquisitions Law
    SASAKI Tomoo
    ISHIKAWA Hiroaki
    OKAMURA Yu
    SUZUKI Tomohiro
    FUKATSU Haruno
    FUKUCHI Takumi
    KITAGAWA Hiroki
    TOYOOKA Hiroto
    MATSUHASHI Sho

    ■ Financial Institution Regulatory Law
    KANEKI Nobuyuki

    ■ Information Technology Law
    FUJINAMI Tomonori
    ADACHI Makoto

    ■ Intellectual Property Law (Non-Patent)
    ISHIKAWA Hiroaki

    ■ Labor and Employment Law
    NAKAMURA Saeko
    KITAGAWA Hiroki

    ■ Litigation
    ITO Natsuho
    ICHIKAWA Kazuki

    ■ Privacy and Data Security Law
    HORITA Koji

    ■ Private Equity, Private Funds and Venture Capital Law
    KUNIMOTO Kazuki

  • 202510

    A book review of "Q&A: Explanation of the Freelance Law," by Nakano Masayuki and Ishikawa Teppei, and edited with the cooperation of Matsuda Taiki and Suzuki Riko, has been published.

    Publisher：Liberty and Justice October 2025

  • 202507

    A book review of "Q&A: Explanation of the Freelance Law," by Nakano Masayuki and Ishikawa Teppei, and edited with the cooperation of Matsuda Taiki and Suzuki Riko, has been published.

    Publisher：Business Houmu September 2025 issue

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