# AI rules in Japan

Japan's AI Promotion Act (in force 2025) is a light-touch framework law without fines, operationalised through a Cabinet AI Basic Plan and voluntary government guidelines.

- **Approach:** AI framework law
- **Key bodies:** AI Strategy Headquarters (Cabinet), Cabinet Office, METI, MIC, Japan AI Safety Institute (J-AISI), Digital Agency
- **Strategy:** [Artificial Intelligence Basic Plan](https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/ai/ai_plan/ai_plan.html) (2026)
- **Last reviewed:** 4 Oct 2026

## Rules (4)
- [AI Promotion Act (AI Act)](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/jp-ai-promotion-act-2025/index.md): In force, Law, effective 4 Jun 2025. Japan's first AI statute: a promotion-focused framework law that sets basic principles, creates the AI Strategy Headquarters chaired by the Prime Minister, mandates an AI Basic Plan, and lets the government investigate serious incidents and issue guidance, request cooperation and publicise misuse. It imposes no direct fines on businesses.
- [AI Basic Plan](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/jp-ai-basic-plan-2026/index.md): In force, Strategy, effective 14 Jul 2026. Statutory national plan under Article 18 of the AI Promotion Act (Act No. 53 of 2025) setting government AI policy measures. The Cabinet adopted the second plan ('Japan AI Transformation') on 14 Jul 2026, replacing the first plan adopted on 23 Dec 2025.
- [AI Appropriateness Guideline](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/jp-ai-appropriateness-guideline-2025/index.md): In force, Guideline, effective 19 Dec 2025. Guideline adopted by the AI Strategy Headquarters under the AI Promotion Act setting out what developers, providers and users should do to ensure AI is developed and used appropriately, drawing on the Hiroshima AI Process principles.
- [AI Guidelines for Business](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/jp-meti-mic-ai-guidelines-for-business-v1-2/index.md): In force, Guideline, effective 31 Mar 2026. Voluntary, living guidelines for AI developers, providers and business users in Japan covering common principles and role-specific practices. Version 1.2 was published on 31 Mar 2026, updating v1.0 (Apr 2024) and v1.1 (Mar 2025).

## Programmes and facts
- Second AI Basic Plan adopted by Cabinet decision on 14 Jul 2026, replacing the first plan of 23 Dec 2025
- Japan AI Safety Institute published its AI Safety Evaluation Perspectives Guide v1.20 (adding AI-agent criteria) on 7 Jul 2026
- METI/MIC AI Guidelines for Business v1.2 published 31 Mar 2026

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/j/jp/ · Not legal advice.