October 1, 2021 Results of Survey on Status of Compliance with Foreign Investment Regulations

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) surveyed the status of compliance with foreign investment regulations on businesses and has completed the survey today. As a result, MIC issued a stern warning and administrative guidance to prevent recurrence to those that had previously violated foreign investment regulations.

1．Overview

MIC requested all authorized broadcast holding companies and core broadcasting business operators on April 6, 2021, to confirm the status of compliance with foreign investment regulations and received responses from all 580 companies. After that, MIC conducted a close examination, requesting the submission of evidence-based materials as necessary, and completed the investigation today.
As a result of the investigation, the following three new cases have violated the foreign investment restrictions stipulated in the Radio Act (Act No. 131 of 1950) and the Broadcast Act (Act No. 132 of 1950) in the past.
Furthermore, in relation to 1, it was recognized that there was insufficiency in the review of past administrative actions by the MIC.

1. Ishinomaki Community Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (Community broadcasting operator)

Violation of foreign investment restrictions (restrictions on foreigners becoming specified officers) stipulated in Article 5, Paragraph 4, Item 2 of the Radio Act.

2. Animax Broadcast Japan Inc. and BS SHOCHIKU TOKYU Co., Ltd. (satellite basic broadcaster)

Violation of the foreign investment restrictions (restriction on foreigners becoming specified officers) stipulated in Article 93, Paragraph 1, Item 7 of the Broadcasting Act (Item 6 of the same paragraph before the amendment in 2019).

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  The date of each act of violation is not disclosed in order to prevent foreign officers from being easily identified by public disclosure.

2．Content of Administrative guidance

It is truly regrettable that the three companies have violated foreign investment regulations in the past, and MIC has issued a stern warning and administrative guidance to the three companies, requiring them to prevent recurrences.
Furthermore, measures (a stern warning or caution) based on an official directive of MIC were taken against 14 MIC employees, excluding retirees involved in the review of past administrative actions deemed insufficient.