Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976)
Japan's Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976, as amended to 2026): the consumer-protection statute every business selling to Japanese consumers online, by mail order, by telephone, door to door or through recruitment must follow, with advertising disclosures (the tokutei shoutorihiki-hou hyouki notice), the 2022 final confirmation screen rules, opt-in email advertising, cooling-off and mid-term cancellation, damage caps and criminal penalties. Built from the official Japanese text read in full.
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) is a compliance framework from Japan with 8 domains and 62 controls. The largest domains are Chapter II Section 2: Door-to-door sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (10 controls), Chapter II Section 3: Mail order sales (including online sales) – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (10 controls), Chapter II Section 4: Telemarketing sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (9 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (8)
Chapter II Section 2: Door-to-door sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.10 | Art. 10 Cap on damages after cancellation of a door-to-door contract |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.3 | Art. 3 Disclosure of name and purpose before door-to-door solicitation |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.3-2 | Art. 3-2 Confirming willingness and no re-solicitation after refusal |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.4 | Art. 4 Document on receiving an application |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.5 | Art. 5 Contract document |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.6(1)(2) | Art. 6(1)-(2) No false statements or intentional non-disclosure |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.6(3)(4) | Art. 6(3)-(4) No intimidation and no closed-room solicitation of lured customers |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.7 | Art. 7 Conduct that grounds instructions: non-performance, other non-disclosure, excessive quantities |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.9 | Art. 9 Honouring door-to-door cooling-off (8 days) |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.9-2 | Art. 9-2 Cancellation of excessive-quantity contracts (within 1 year) |
Chapter II Section 3: Mail order sales (including online sales) – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.11 | Art. 11 Mandatory disclosures in mail-order and online advertising |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.12 | Art. 12 No exaggerated or misleading mail-order advertising |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.12-3 | Art. 12-3, 12-4 Opt-in email advertising, opt-out and records |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.12-5 | Art. 12-5 Opt-in fax advertising |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.12-6(1) | Art. 12-6(1) Final confirmation screen: mandatory display (from 1 June 2022) |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.12-6(2) | Art. 12-6(2) Final confirmation screen: no misleading display |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.13 | Art. 13 Notice of acceptance where payment precedes delivery |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.13-2 | Art. 13-2 No false statements to obstruct returns or cancellation (from 1 June 2022) |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.14 | Art. 14 Mail-order conduct that grounds instructions |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.15-3 | Art. 15-3 Mail-order returns (8 days) unless a special term is displayed |
Chapter II Section 4: Telemarketing sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.16 | Art. 16 Disclosure at the start of a telemarketing call |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.17 | Art. 17 No re-solicitation after refusal by telephone |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.18-19 | Art. 18, 19 Telemarketing application and contract documents |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.20 | Art. 20 Notice of acceptance for prepaid telemarketing sales |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.21(1)(2) | Art. 21(1)-(2) No false statements or intentional non-disclosure in telemarketing |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.21(3) | Art. 21(3) No intimidation in telemarketing |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.22 | Art. 22 Telemarketing conduct that grounds instructions |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.24 | Art. 24, 24-2 Honouring telemarketing cooling-off and excessive-quantity cancellation |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.25 | Art. 25 Cap on damages after cancellation of a telemarketing contract |
Chapter III: Multilevel marketing transactions – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
Chapter IV: Specified continuous services – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.42 | Art. 42 Specified continuous services: overview and contract documents |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.43 | Art. 43 No exaggerated advertising of specified continuous services |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.44 | Art. 44 Prohibited acts in specified continuous services |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.45 | Art. 45 Keeping business and financial documents for prepayment customers |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.46 | Art. 46 Specified continuous services conduct that grounds instructions |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.48 | Art. 48 Honouring cooling-off (8 days) including related goods |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.49 | Art. 49 Mid-term cancellation with capped charges |
Chapter V-2: Door-to-door purchase – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-10 | Art. 58-10 Prohibited acts in door-to-door purchase |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-11 | Art. 58-11, 58-11-2 Notices on handing goods to third parties |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-12 | Art. 58-12 Door-to-door purchase conduct that grounds instructions |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-14 | Art. 58-14, 58-15, 58-16 Honouring cooling-off, refusal of delivery and capped charges |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-5 | Art. 58-5 Disclosure before door-to-door purchase solicitation |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-6 | Art. 58-6 No uninvited solicitation; confirm willingness; respect refusal |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-7 | Art. 58-7, 58-8 Door-to-door purchase documents |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58-9 | Art. 58-9 Telling the seller they may refuse to hand over the goods |
Chapter V: Business opportunity sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.51-2 | Art. 51-2 Disclosure before business opportunity solicitation |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.52 | Art. 52 Prohibited acts in business opportunity sales |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.53 | Art. 53 Mandatory disclosures in business opportunity advertising |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.54 | Art. 54 No exaggerated business opportunity advertising |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.54-3 | Art. 54-3, 54-4 Opt-in email advertising for business opportunity sales |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.55 | Art. 55 Business opportunity documents: overview and contract |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.56 | Art. 56 Business opportunity conduct that grounds instructions |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.58 | Art. 58, 58-3 Honouring the 20-day cancellation right and capped charges |
Chapter VI: Unsolicited goods and inspections – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.59 | Art. 59, 59-2 Unsolicited goods: no right to demand return (from 6 July 2021) |
| japan-act-on-specified-commercial-transactions-asct-digital-services::Art.66 | Art. 66 Reports, document production and on-site inspection |
What is Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) and who does it apply to?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) is a compliance framework from Japan with 8 domains and 62 controls. Japan's Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976, as amended to 2026): the consumer-protection statute every business selling to Japanese consumers online, by mail order, by telephone, door to door or through recruitment must follow, with advertising disclosures (the tokutei shoutorihiki-hou hyouki notice), the 2022 final confirmation screen rules, opt-in email advertising, cooling-off and mid-term cancellation, damage caps and criminal penalties. Built from the official Japanese text read in full. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) actually require?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) has 62 controls organised across 8 domains. The largest domains are Chapter II Section 2: Door-to-door sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (10 controls), Chapter II Section 3: Mail order sales (including online sales) – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (10 controls), Chapter II Section 4: Telemarketing sales – Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (ASCT) - Digital Services (9 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) do I already cover?
Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) does not currently have cross-framework mappings in our system. Check back as we continuously expand our mapping database.
How do I implement Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976)?
Start your Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about Japan Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (Act No. 57 of 1976) requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 62 controls and track your progress.
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