The tracker · Japan
Japan’s voluntary due diligence guidelines, increasingly hard-edged through procurement and buyer cascades.
Government study on binding options continues; procurement-linked expectations doing the practical work.
In plain language
The METI guidelines set out UNGP-aligned expectations for human rights due diligence by companies operating in Japan, covering policy commitments, impact identification, prevention and mitigation, remedy and disclosure. They carry no penalties, but linkage to public procurement and the compliance programmes of the large trading houses gives them practical force.
The open question tracked here is whether Japan moves from guidance to statute. Government study groups continue to examine binding options, while Japanese buyers increasingly transmit due diligence requirements to Asian suppliers through contracts, making the guidelines a de facto regional standard whose operational mechanisms are still developing.
Obligations
Companies are expected to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse human rights impacts across supply chains.
Grievance mechanisms and public disclosure of due diligence efforts are expected under the guidelines.
Timeline
Japan adopted its National Action Plan on business and human rights.
METI published the due diligence guidelines.
Public procurement linkage introduced and binding options studied.
Changelog
Study group progress and procurement linkage developments recorded.
Sources