Antimonopoly Act Enforcement Actions in Japan

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Ogata Construction Co., Ltd. on June 25, 2024, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by restricting competition in a public civil engineering project ordered by Kagawa Prefecture.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Shibaguchi Corporation on June 25, 2024, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by restricting competition in a public civil engineering project ordered by Kagawa Prefecture.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Murakami-gumi Co., Ltd. on June 25, 2024, for restricting competition in a public civil engineering project in Kagawa Prefecture by colluding with local businesses to pre-select bidders and manipulate bidding prices.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Shinomiya-gumi Ltd. on June 25, 2024, for restricting competition in a public civil engineering project by colluding with other local businesses to pre-select the winning bidder and manipulate bidding prices.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Daiichi Kogyo Co., Ltd. on June 25, 2024, for restricting competition in a public civil engineering project by colluding with local businesses to pre-select bidders and manipulate bidding prices.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission issued an order to eliminate practices to Sumitomo Expressway Corporation for violating the Antimonopoly Act by engaging in bid-rigging related to road cleaning services.

The Fair Trade Commission ordered Subaru Kogyo to pay a surcharge of 5,282,500 yen for involvement in bid-rigging related to road cleaning services, including activities such as determining bidders, selecting cooperators, preparing and providing cost breakdowns, and submitting or withdrawing bids, from at least May 22, 2017.

The Fair Trade Commission has filed a criminal complaint against five companies, including Toho Gas Co., Ltd., for engaging in price cartel activities related to diesel fuel sales, violating the Anti-Monopoly Act.

The Fair Trade Commission has filed a criminal complaint against four companies, including Higashi-Nihon Usami, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act through price collusion in the diesel fuel sales industry.

The Fair Trade Commission has filed a criminal complaint against five companies, including Higashi-Nihon Usami Corporation, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act through price collusion in the sale of diesel fuel.

The Fair Trade Commission has filed a criminal complaint against four companies, including Higashi-Nihon Usami Corporation, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act through price collusion among diesel fuel sellers.

The Fair Trade Commission has filed a criminal complaint against East Japan Usami Co., Ltd. and four other companies for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act through price cartel activities related to diesel fuel sales.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Zagu Zagu Co., Ltd. for requiring suppliers to dispatch employees for store opening and renovation tasks without bearing the usual costs, during the period from August 20, 2022, to December 23, 2023.

The Japan Fair Trade Commission has ordered Dentsu Group Inc. to pay a revised surcharge related to a violation of the Anti-Monopoly Act, following an investigation into bid-rigging concerning Tokyo 2020 Olympic test events.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Kamashin Co., Ltd. on March 5, 2024, regarding potential violations of the Anti-Monopoly Act, specifically Article 19 concerning abuse of a superior bargaining position.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Delicia Co., Ltd. for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by dispatching suppliers' employees to assist with store openings, renovations, and sales floor changes without bearing the usual costs, during the period from April 1, 2022, to July 6, 2024.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Murakami Trading Co., Ltd. on February 19, 2024, regarding a suspected violation of the Anti-Monopoly Act. The company allegedly continued supplying regular gasoline at prices significantly below the cost of supply at a gas station in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture, during a certain period from July 1 to August 31, 2023, potentially hindering the business activities of other gasoline sellers in the surrounding area.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to eliminate restrictions and a surcharge payment order to the Nagano Prefecture Petroleum Business Cooperative Hokushin Branch and 17 associated companies for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by substantially restricting competition in the specific gasoline sales sector.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order for corrective measures to Maruei Chosa Sekkei for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by coordinating with other bidders and submitting higher bids for specific bridge inspection projects after February 19, 2021.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to JR Tokai Consultants for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by coordinating bidding activities for specific overpass inspection projects, restricting competition.

The Fair Trade Commission of Japan issued an order to JR Central for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by coordinating with other bidders and submitting higher bids for specific overpass inspection work from at least February 19, 2021.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Dainichi Consultant on December 19, 2024, for violating the Antimonopoly Act by coordinating bid prices for specific overpass inspection projects since at least February 19, 2021.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning in December 2024 to three non-branch members involved in petroleum sales for suspected collusion in obtaining and using pricing information from branch members to determine sales prices.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order for corrective measures to Tonichi Consultant for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by coordinating bid prices for specific overpass inspection projects.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Japan Transportation Technology and five other companies for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by colluding to restrict competition in specific overpass inspection contracts from February 19, 2021.

The Nagano Prefecture Petroleum Business Cooperative Hokushin Branch was ordered to cease practices that involved coordinating the price revisions and timing of sales prices for specific volatile oils among its members, in violation of the Antimonopoly Act.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a request to the Nagano Petroleum Business Association on November 26, 2024, regarding violations of the Anti-Monopoly Act involving price reporting and approval practices.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Shinmei Denzai Corporation on September 25, 2024, for suspected violations of the Anti-Monopoly Act related to conduct involving continuous supply of electrical equipment materials and requesting payments under the guise of sales support activities, despite no benefit to the suppliers.

The Fair Trade Commission of Japan issued an cease-and-desist order to Kyokuto Kaihatsu Kogyo Co., Ltd. and ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. for colluding to raise prices of specialized vehicles, including dust carts and tailgate lifts, due to rising raw material costs, thereby restricting competition in the market.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order for corrective measures to Nihon Trecx on September 24, 2024, for colluding with Toho Vehicles to raise the prices of specific trailers, thereby substantially restricting competition contrary to the Anti-Monopoly Act.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an corrective order to Harley-Davidson Japan on September 18, 2024, for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by abusing a superior bargaining position over certain dealers, including unilaterally setting RSO targets and pressuring dealers to meet them.

The Northern Shin Branch of the Nagano Prefecture Petroleum Business Association was ordered to pay a surcharge of 11,658,000 yen for violating the Antimonopoly Act by determining and communicating price revisions for specific volatile oils sold by its members.

The Japan Baseball Organization was warned by the Fair Trade Commission for potentially violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by restricting media activities and adjusting broadcast rights concerning Major League Baseball games during the 2024 Japanese Series.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an cease-and-desist order to Funadokin Shoyu for colluding to raise the wholesale price of sesame oil and sesame seeds used in food products.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to eliminate practices after two companies, including Marumiya Foods, agreed to jointly raise the wholesale price of sesame oil.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an cease-and-desist order to Esbee Foods for collusive agreement to raise the wholesale price of sesame oil.

The Fair Trade Commission requested the All Japan Hotel Federation to ensure its members are thoroughly informed about compliance with the Anti-Monopoly Act to prevent similar violations in the future.

The Fair Trade Commission requested the Japan Hotel Association to ensure its members are fully informed about compliance with the Anti-Monopoly Act to prevent similar violations in the future.

Japan Trex was ordered to pay a surcharge for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by agreeing on and exchanging information to raise the sales prices of specific trailers, thereby restricting competition.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order to Google LLC on April 15, 2024, under the Anti-Monopoly Act, to eliminate practices restricting the implementation of competing search services on certain Android smartphones.

Toyota Mobility Tokyo was issued a warning by the Fair Trade Commission for allegedly engaging in unfair sales practices related to specific Toyota vehicles between June 2023 and November 2024.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Kyushu Shijishi on March 18, 2024, regarding suspected violations of the Antimonopoly Act related to resale price maintenance involving CGC-branded products in Kyushu and Okinawa regions.

The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Atre Co., Ltd. for unilaterally changing contractual terms related to point service costs with tenants at their commercial facilities, despite prior agreements.

On January 26, 2024, the Fair Trade Commission issued an order for corrective measures to ADC Marketing Solutions Co., Ltd. for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by changing its trade name from Asatsu-DK Inc. on January 1, 2019, and being involved in related conduct.

The Fair Trade Commission issued an order for corrective measures to Dentsu Group Inc. and six other companies for violating the Anti-Monopoly Act by colluding to determine and secure planned contracts for specific test events and main tournaments from April 2, 2018, at the latest.