AI Policy Radar — JP

Japan

Innovation-promoting basic law plus soft-law guidance

Regulatory posture

Japan enacted its AI Promotion Act in 2025 — a light-touch basic law establishing an AI Strategy Headquarters and cooperation duties rather than penalties — supplemented by detailed government guidelines from December 2025. Its Hiroshima Process remains one of the most consequential international AI governance initiatives.

Tracked

In force1
Signals1

Set last reviewed 13 August 2026
Next review 10 September 2026

Tracked instruments

1 September 2025In forceJapan AI ActJapan's first AI law is promotion-oriented: it establishes an AI Strategic Headquarters under the Cabinet, a national AI Basic Plan, and cooperation duties for businesses…Standards & AssuranceGovernance & Procurement

Signals

19 December 2025
Japan issues AI R&D and utilization guideline under the Promotion Act
The AI Strategic Headquarters' guideline operationalizes the light-touch AI Promotion Act with concrete expectations for business cooperation.

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