JAPAN: TIER 1

THE GOVERNMENT OF Japan fully meets the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Authorities continued to demonstrate serious and sustained efforts during the reporting period; therefore Japan remained on Tier 1. These efforts included increasing labor inspections of the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and convicting and incarcerating more traffickers than in the previous reporting period. Although Japan met the minimum standards, authorities again failed to identify a single trafficking case in TITP, despite multiple reports of forced labor among migrant workers in Japan under its auspices. The government did not fully enforce TITP reform law provisions aimed at blocking foreign-based recruitment agencies from charging excessive fees - a key driver of debt bondage among TITP participants. Authorities continued to prosecute traffickers under laws carrying lesser sentences, which courts often suspended in lieu of incarceration, and they continued to suspend the majority of convicted traffickers’ prison sentences. Some traffickers received only fines. Interagency stakeholders relied upon disparate screening and referral procedures, leading to issues with proper identification and protection of victims. Law enforcement bodies continued to identify hundreds of children exploited in commercial sex without formally designating them as trafficking victims, and authorities continued to address many suspected cases of child sex trafficking and forced labor with administrative penalties or loss of business licenses rather than through criminal investigations and proceedings.

PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:

Vigorously investigate and prosecute sex and labor trafficking cases, and hold convicted traffickers accountable by imposing strong sentences. • Amend anti-trafficking laws to remove sentencing provisions that allow fines in lieu of imprisonment and to increase the penalties prescribed for trafficking crimes to include a maximum of no less than four years’ imprisonment. • Increase resources to provide specialized care and assistance to trafficking victims, including designated shelters for trafficking victims, and ensure these services are also available to both foreign and male victims. • Increase implementation of the TITP reform law's oversight and enforcement measures, including by training Organization for Technical Intern Training (OTIT) personnel and immigration officials on victim identification, improving OTIT coordination with NGOs, increasing employer inspections, and terminating contracts with foreign recruitment agencies charging excessive commissions or fees.