Issue 145, October 2025

Foreword

  • Addressing “Dark Patterns”

Special Feature 1,Supreme Court Ruling on the Cancellation Lawsuit Against the Reduction of Public Assistance Standards

  • Report on the Supreme Court Ruling in the “Fortress of Life” Trial (Cancellation Lawsuit Against the Reduction of Public Assistance Standards)
  • Repayment Claims Under Article 63 of the Public Assistance Act and Self-Reliance Rehabilitation Plans
  • “Historic Victory at the Supreme Court: Statistical Fraud Exposed,” Correcting Price Deception (Part 25)

Special Feature 2, Paradigm Shift in Consumer Law Systems

  • Paradigm Shift in Consumer Law Systems: The Expert Investigation Committee Report and the Consumer
  • Commission’s Recommendation
  • Outline of the “Special Investigation Committee Report on the Paradigm Shift in the Consumer Law System”
  • Toward Future Concrete System Design Based on the Consumer Commission’s Recommendation on the Paradigm Shift in the Consumer Law System
  • Reading the Paradigm Shift Special Investigation Committee Report from Peripheral Issues
  • Examining Consumer Law Systems to Address Changes in Transactions Surrounding Consumers: Considering the “Expert Panel Report on the Paradigm Shift in Consumer Law Systems”
  • The Dangers Implied in “Paradigm Shift” and “Best Mix” -In Response to the “Expert Panel Report on the Paradigm Shift in Consumer Law Systems”

Special Feature 3, The “Dark Side” of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau’s Review

  • What is Blocking the Revision of the Consumer Contract Act? Delving into the “Dark Side” of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau
  • The Organization of the Cabinet Legislation Bureau and the Review of Bills, etc.
  • Examining the 2022 Consumer Contract Act Revision Bill(1) – Regarding Article 9
  • Examining the 2022 Consumer Contract Law Amendment Bill (2): On So-called “Preying” Solicitation
  • The Cabinet Legislation Bureau’s Review and the Stagnation of Consumer Law

Special Feature 4: The MORITOMO GAKUEN Scandal – Deception and Concealment to Defraud the Public

  • Lawsuit to Revoke the Refusal to Respond to Existence/Non-Existence
  • Contemporary Japanese Politics and Administration as Seen Through the MORIMOTO GAKUEN Scandal (Part 1)

Special Feature 5: Rights of Litigants · The Collapse of Japan’s Judiciary

  • Toward Civil Litigation Respecting “Rights of Litigants”
  • Violations of the Constitution and Law: Kobe District Court, Osaka High Court, Supreme Court (Part 1)

Topic

  • The Dark Side of Osaka Casino Planning: The Truly Troubling Truth Hidden Behind the Glittering YUMESHIMA Project

Series 1, Consumer Legislation, Consumer Affairs Agency, Consumer Commission

  • Report from the 8th Consumer Commission
  • Recent Movements by Relevant Ministries Concerning Consumer Policy and Consumer Law: Digitalization and Aging

Series 2, Payday Loans for consumer, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

  • Passing on the Story: Remembering Guarantee Victims, Part 1: Now, an Era Where Credit Guarantee Associations Advertise Loans That Don’t Even Require Borrower Representative Guarantees
  • For Strengthening Japan’s Democratic Movement (44): How to Counter the Crisis of Freedom of Speech, Press, and Academic Freedom

Series 3, Great East Japan Earthquake/Radiation· Japan’s Future

  • The Proactive Nuclear Power Utilization Policy and the Burden of Further Enormous Costs on the Public

Series 4, Special Commercial Transactions Law ·Deposit Law · Credit (Installment Sales)

  • Submission of Comments on the Report of the “Study Group on Consumer Transactions in the Digital Society”
  • Negative Option After Cooling-Off Period
  • Current Status of the Special Commercial Transactions Act Revision Movement

Series 5, Consumer Contract Act · Malicious Business Practices

  • Submission to Private Universities in the Kansai Region
  • Request to Japan Post Bank for Improvements Including Display of ATM Coin Handling Fees
  • Consumer Support Organization Kansai (KCs) is advancing “inquiry” activities with ST Corporation, which sold four MoriLabo products
  • Activity Report of NPO Kyoto Consumer Contract Network (KCCN), Regular Meeting Held: “Practical Application of the Revised Consumer Contract Act”
  • Regarding Training for Designated Consumer Counselors
  • Activities of the Kansai Consumer Support Organization (KCs)
  • Importance of Cooperation Among Consumer Groups
  • Activity Report of Nara Consumer Net
  • Activity Report of the Niigata Consumer Life Network
  • Report on the Japan Life Fukui District Court Ruling
  • Report on Victim Consultations Received by the “National Conference on Countermeasures Against Secondary Damage from Debt Settlement by Mass Advertising Agencies”
  • Formation of a Legal Defense Team for Rescue Sales Scheme Troubles in the Three Hokuriku Prefectures

Series 6, Defective Housing

  • Amendments to the Condominium Act Concerning the Facilitation of Exercising Claims Related to Common Areas, etc., and Their Problems
  • A Case Where the Degree of Proof for Defect Causes Wasan Issue
  • Series: Basic Knowledge of Defective Housing Disputes (71) Advantages and Disadvantages of Type-Approved Housing

Series 7, Food Safety

  • Food Safety is in a Critical Situation Both Domestically and Internationally
  • Health Destruction Caused by Food Additives as Research Advances

Series 8, Religion

  • TENCHI SEIKYO is part of the (former) Unification Church. Tenchi Seikyō must not be allowed to inherit the Unification Church’s assets
  • Immediately after the assassination attempt on Mr. Abe, a call from the Public Security Police to the “Victory Over Communism Federation” – Collusion between the Public Security Police, the “Victory Over Communism Federation,” and the Unification Church (World Family
  • Federation for Peace and Unification)?
  • <Document> Statement (Regarding the Unification Church’s July 11, 2025 Press Release)

Series 9, Pet: Animal Law

  • Lecture: Feeding Stray Cats (July 19, 2025)
  • Draft Proposal for Establishing a Basic Animal Law
  • Regarding Kobe City’s Project to Promote Coexistence Between People and Cats

Series 10, Cases, Precedents, and Discussions Concerning Daily Life

  • Indigenous Rights: The Unknown Invasion of Hokkaido

Series 11, International Consumer Issues

  • Regulations on Contract Conformity in Sales Contracts in Various Countries (2): Focusing on Consumer Protection Provisions in Movable Property Sales Contracts
  • Swiss Federal Unfair Competition Prevention Act and Telephone Solicitation Regulation: From Opt-Out to Opt-In
  • Chinese Consumer Law Developments (Part 40): On the Telecommunications Network Fraud Prohibition Act, etc. (Part 2)

Series 12, Peace and Freedom/Human Rights

  • Two Court Cases Concerning Police Surveillance of Citizens and Privacy, The Ohgaki Police Surveillance Case and the Nagoya Hakuryo-cho Case
  • What is War? The Japanese Constitution and September 18

Scholar’s Perspective

  • Application of the Specified Commercial Transactions Act to Post-Payment Contracts in Mail-Order Sales
  • Potential for Abuse of Circumstances and Challenges in a Dependent Society
  • Are Scholars’ Eyes Seeing the Reality of Merchant Agreements?

Counselor’s Perspective · Activities

  • National Consumer Centre Focus Information . Plus One
  • How to Protect Consumers with Mental Health Concerns from Trouble
  • High Bills Different from Ads: Consumer Troubles Surrounding Pest Control Services
  • Recent Reports on Rescue Services for Daily Life: No Refund Even After Cooling-Off Period!!

Q&A

  • Troubles with Online Accommodation Services

Case Law & Settlement Updates

  • Nos. 2679-2683

Featured Important Case Law

Voices from Government, Political Parties & Diet Members

  • Addressing the Reiwa Rice Shortage
  • Addressing the Reiwa Rice Shortage

Secretariat News

  • Constitutional Violations in Politics & Courts

And more

  • Database of judicial precedents