Published Aug 3, 2026 | Law promulgated May 29; ministerial rules next
The Act partially amending the Mobile Phone Fraud Prevention Act (formally, the Act on Identification of Mobile Voice Communication Subscribers and Prevention of Improper Use of Mobile Voice Communication Services) — Act No. 25 of 2026 — was enacted on May 22, 2026 and promulgated on May 29. It builds on the "Comprehensive Measures 2.0 to Protect Citizens from Fraud," decided by the Ministerial Meeting on Crime Countermeasures on April 22, 2025, and on the report on user protection in ICT services compiled by the MIC study group on rules for ICT service users. The stated purpose is to respond to the increasingly diverse and malicious misuse of telecom services such as mobile handsets. Part of the concrete design of the amended Act is delegated to MIC ministerial ordinances. To prepare for entry into force, from July 2026 the Working Group on Countermeasures against Improper Use — set up under that study group — discussed the direction of the ordinance revisions. The discussion was compiled at the 14th Working Group meeting on July 22, reported to the 11th study group session held by e-mail deliberation from July 27 to 31, and published on August 3, 2026 as "Direction of the Institutional Framework Based on the Amendment of the Mobile Phone Fraud Prevention Act." What has been released is the policy direction; the exact ordinance text and the enforcement date will be fixed through subsequent procedures.
In Japan a mobile number effectively works as an identity credential: it is needed to open a bank account, complete administrative procedures, sign a housing contract, and register for marketplace apps and social media. A reform that revisits identity checks and anti-misuse measures at contract time therefore touches daily life directly. At the shop counter you will be asked for a valid, unexpired ID such as a residence card; a document that has expired or does not reflect a change in your details can stop the contract on the spot. Taking over a line or handset "as is" from a friend who is leaving Japan counts as a transfer without the carrier's consent and may violate the law — as does lending or borrowing a contract name. Many carriers serve customers mainly in Japanese, so check in advance whether multilingual support is available and what documents are required. Because the operational detail will be set by forthcoming ministerial ordinances, anyone planning to sign a contract should confirm the timing and required documents with the carrier.
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Japan's Digital Agency is seeking public comments on draft amendments to the My Number order and the technical standards for individual number cards. Submit through e-Gov in Japanese between 31 August and 30 September 2026; foreign residents may also comment.
Japan's Digital Agency says a VPN-based intrusion into its Government Solution Service may have exposed about 246,000 records of ministry staff and contractors. No My Number or bank data was involved, but phishing risk is real.