Japan’s Telecommunications Business Act: A Compliance Guide for Foreign Game Publishers
April 23, 2026
I. Introduction
It is not uncommon for foreign game companies to first encounter Japan’s telecommunications regulatory framework through a direct inquiry from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (the “MIC”). In some cases, the inquiry is prompted by a specific product feature (such as in-game chat or voice communication) rather than by the company’s overall business model.
This reflects a broader point: Japan’s Telecommunications Business Act (the “TBA”) is not limited to traditional telecommunications carriers. Its scope is defined functionally and extends to a wide range of digital services that facilitate communications between users.
As a result, a game publisher operating in Japan may, in certain circumstances, be regarded as a telecommunications business operator under the TBA. Where this is the case, the operator may be required to file a notification with the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and comply with a range of ongoing obligations.
This can come as a surprise to overseas publishers, particularly where the service is structured as an entertainment product and relies on third-party infrastructure. However, under Japanese law, the classification of a service depends not on how the business is labeled, but on what the service actually does.
This article explains, from a practical perspective, when the TBA may apply to game services, what the notification process involves for a foreign corporation, and what regulatory implications may follow.
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