Product Liability Litigation in Japan: A Practical Guide for Foreign Businesses
September 29, 2025
Key Words: Product Liability Act Japan, Consumer Product Safety Act Japan, Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act Japan, PSE Mark Japan, Domestic Responsible Person Japan, Product Recalls Japan, NITE Accident Statistics Japan, Lithium-ion Battery Fires Japan, Consumer Protection Japan, Civil Litigation Japan, Japanese Court Procedure, Settlement Practice Japan, Appeals in Japan, Attorneys’ Fees Japan, Compensatory Damages Japan, No Punitive Damages Japan, E-commerce Regulation Japan, Recycling Law Japan, Waste Disposal Fire Risk Japan, Compliance and Litigation Japan, Risk Management Japan.
I. Introduction[1]
Japan has long been regarded as a market with rigorous product standards and demanding consumers. Yet, even in such a tightly regulated environment, product liability (PL) litigation continues to play an important role. Recent developments highlight why foreign businesses cannot assume that compliance alone will protect them from disputes. For example, reports of mobile battery and lithium-ion fires have increased sharply in recent years. In 2024, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE) recorded 123 such incidents—more than double the 56 incidents reported in 2022.[2] In some cases, products manufactured overseas and sold through e-commerce platforms have escaped regulatory oversight, complicating both recalls and liability management.
This article outlines (1) the key features of Japan’s PL framework (including the recent amendment to The Consumer Product Safety Act), (2) how product liability litigation is conducted in practice, (3) the main risks foreign businesses should be aware of, and (4) practical steps to manage those risks effectively.
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[1] This communication is provided as a service to our clients and friends and is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship or constitute an advertisement, a solicitation, or professional advice as to any particular situation.
[2] The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE)’s press release dated June 26, 2025. See, also, Nikkei, “Sudden Fires in Mobile Batteries: Defective Products Still in Circulation, Overseas-Made Items Evading Regulation,” September 26, 2025.